Brigadier General John Thomas Corley (August 4, 1914 – April 16, 1977) was a career United States Army officer who served with distinction in World War II.

He graduated from the United States Military Academy at West Point in 1938, where he also was an accomplished boxer prior to his active duty service.

One story states that after his graduation from West Point he was assigned to the Army Air Corps; where he then flew an airplane under the Brooklyn Bridge and was then reassigned to the infantry.

As a major, he landed with the Big Red One in North Africa and two days later earned a Silver Star, America's third highest award for valor, for action in Oran, Algeria.

As the 1st Division pushed through North Africa and eventually invading Sicily, Corley picked up his second Silver Star in July 1943 when he remained at the front of an assault force to maneuver his men in an attack against heavy resistance when other units had faltered and held back.

[1] By 10 August 1950, he had earned his sixth Silver Star Medal when he again moved to the front to coordinate the attack under heavy small-arms and mortar fire.

Near Haman, Korea, his battalion was fighting to take hilly and mountainous terrain when it came under a withering North Korean counter-attack.

On multiple occasions when his company was beaten back by superior numbers, Corley rushed to the front and personally reorganized the retreating men to halt the enemy advance.

After Korea, Corley served as chief of the Infantry Branch before graduating from Army War College at Carlisle Barracks, Pennsylvania, in 1954.

Lieutenant Colonel Corley distinguished himself by extraordinary heroism in action against enemy aggressor forces near Haman, Korea, during the period 21 through 23 August 1950.

Colonel Corley moved from his command post to Company L, where he coordinated small- arms, mortar, and artillery fire.

The extraordinary heroism and inspirational leadership displayed by Colonel Corley reflects the highest credit upon himself and the military service.