In God We Trust
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The President of the United States takes great pleasure in presenting the Distinguished Flying Cross to Lieutenant, Junior Grade, Joseph N. Kanevsky for heroism and extraordinary achievement while participating in aerial flight as Section Leader in Fighter Squadron Twenty-three, based on board the U.S.S. Essex, during operations against enemy aggressor forces in Korea on 17 October 1952. When his Division Leader was shot down by enemy ground fire during a reconnaissance mission near the Anbyon Reservoir, Lieutenant, Junior Grade, Kanevsky immediately initiated emergency procedures and set up a low-altitude protective orbit over the downed Pilot. Bravely remaining at his position over the airman in the face of intense hostile fire, he carried out a series of determined attacks on enemy gun positions in the area to prevent hostile troops from capturing the downed Pilot. Although seriously wounded by enemy fire, which repeatedly hit his aircraft, Lieutenant, Junior Grade, Kanevsky refused to leave the scene until assured that help was on the way and ultimately affected a successful landing at a friendly airfield. By his marked courage, skilled airmanship and selfless efforts in behalf of another, he upheld the highest traditions of the United States Naval Service.
The President of the United States of America, authorized by Act of Congress, July 2, 1926, takes pleasure in presenting the Distinguished Flying Cross to First Lieutenant James Helms Kasler (AFSN: O-2221728/24551A), United States Air Force, for extraordinary achievement while participating in aerial flight on 1 April 1952. Lieutenant Kasler was flying as Yellow four (4) in a flight of four (4) F-86's which were escorting an unarmed RF-80 into North Korea. A flight of MiG-15's attacked this escort and two of the MiG's went directly for the RF-80. Lieutenant Kasler's leader was successful in destroying one of these MiG's but he had expended all of his ammunition. Lieutenant Kasler then took the lead and destroyed the remaining MiG-15. Lieutenant Kasler's excellent pilot technique and his aggressiveness resulted in the destruction of one MiG-15 and saved the FR-80 from damage. His outstanding courage and devotion to duty have brought the highest credit upon himself, his comrades in arms of the United Nations and the United States Air Force.
The President of the United States of America, authorized by Act of Congress, July 2, 1926, takes pleasure in presenting a Bronze Oak Leaf Cluster in lieu of a Second Award of the Distinguished Flying Cross to First Lieutenant James Helms Kasler (AFSN: O-2221728/24551A), United States Air Force, for extraordinary achievement while participating in aerial flight. On 21 April 1952, Lieutenant Kasler was leading an element of two F-86's on combat air patrol over North Korea with the mission of protecting friendly fighter bombers operating to the south. Observing four MiG-15's heading toward the target area of the fighter bombers, he immediately launched an attack. Singling out the enemy leader, he closed on him and scored heavily. The enemy aircraft sustained fatal damage and crashed. The three remaining MiG-15's then regrouped for a counter attack. Exercising commendable skill and airmanship, Lieutenant Kasler accepted this challenge and made a head-on firing pass at them. This daring maneuver successfully routed the enemy, causing them to break formation and leave the area. His heroism and aggressiveness on this occasion were instrumental in insuring that the fighter bombers were left free to operate without being subjected to air attack, and has reflected great credit upon himself and the United States Air Force.
Headquarters, 5th Air Force
General Orders No. 510 - 7 Julyl 1952
The President of the United States of America, authorized by Act of Congress, July 2, 1926, takes pleasure in presenting a Second Bronze Oak Leaf Cluster in lieu of a Third Award of the Distinguished Flying Cross to First Lieutenant James Helms Kasler (AFSN: O-2221728/24551A), United States Air Force, for extraordinary achievement while participating in aerial flight on 4 May 1952 while participating in aerial combat against enemies of the United Nations in Korea. While flying patrol over the Chosan area, North Korea, eight MiG-15's were sighted at 2,000 feet. Covering as his flight leader pressed an attack, Lieutenant Kasler picked up two additional MiG's countering on his leader. After calling for a break and realizing that his leader intended to continue firing rather than turn from his critical position, he initiated an attack on the two MiG's. Closing, Lieutenant Kasler fired on the leader scoring hits which resulted in an explosion. After the destruction of this MiG, he succeeded in fighting off four more attempts made by the enemy to close on his leader. The brilliant airmanship and heroic tenacity by which Lieutenant Kasler destroyed one MiG and repulsed attempts by the enemy to break up his flight reflects great credit upon himself, his comrades in arms of the United Nations and the United States Air Force.
General Orders: All Hands (June 1953)
The President of the United States of America takes pleasure in presenting the Distinguished Flying Cross to Aviation Electronicsman Third Class Leo D. King, United States Navy, for heroism and extraordinary achievement in aerial flight as a Member of a Patrol Plane Crew in Patrol Squadron Forty-Seven (VP-47), during operations against enemy aggressor forces in Korea, from 2 July to 25 December 1950. Completing thirty-five combat missions during this period, he participated in daring strikes against the enemy in the face of imminent hostile anti-aircraft fire and aerial opposition. By his outstanding skill, courage and loyal devotion to duty throughout, he contributed materially to the success of his squadron and upheld the highest traditions of the United States Naval Service.
General Orders: 1st Marine Aircraft Wing
SPOT: Serial 4204
The President of the United States of America takes pleasure in presenting a Third Gold Star in lieu of a Fourth Award of the Distinguished Flying Cross to Major Floyd Claude Kirkpatrick (MCSN: 0-10979), United States Marine Corps, for heroism and extraordinary achievement while participating in aerial flight as Pilot of a Plane in Marine Fighter Squadron Two Hundred Twelve (VMF-212), during operations against enemy aggressor forces in Korea on 30 August 1951. Flying over mountainous terrain in extremely adverse weather, Major Kirkpatrick skillfully led his division to the target area by use of instruments during a close air support mission. Learning that friendly forces were pinned down by a strong concentration of ground fire from a body of 600 of the enemy strategically located in trenches and bunkers on a ridge at the head of a valley, he immediately directed his flight to orbit and personally reconnoitered the area at extremely low altitude in the face of heavy hostile anti-aircraft fire to pinpoint the positions occupied by the enemy accurately. Rejoining his flight, he initiated two daring napalm attacks against the hostile troops entrenched on the ridge, scored four direct hits on the bunkers with his rockets which caused secondary explosions and large fires and, despite increasing enemy fire, continued to press determined strafing runs on the objective until his ammunition was expended. By his marked courage, brilliant airmanship and unswerving devotion to duty, Major Kirkpatrick contributed materially to the success of his slight in completely obliterating the hostile stronghold and in inflicting 480 casualties on the enemy forces, thereby upholding the highest traditions of the United States Naval Service.
Headquarters, 5th Air Force
Special Order G-334 (1951)
The President of the United States of America, authorized by Act of Congress, July 2, 1926, takes pleasure in presenting the Distinguished Flying Cross to First Lieutenant James R. Kiser (AFSN: 0-1909329), United States Air Force, for extraordinary achievement while participating in aerial flight in support of United Nations Forces in Korea on 24 March 1951. Departing an airbase in Southern Japan in adverse weather conditions, Lieutenant Kiser led a flight of three F-80 type aircraft on a pre-briefed armed reconnaissance mission to the Sinmask sector of Korea. Arriving in the target area at dusk, the flight reconnoitered the area looking for targets of opportunity. Lieutenant Kiser skillfully located numerous camouflaged supply-laden carts and with excellent planning, the flight attacked the targets in a devastating napalm bombing attack, destroying thirty of the enemy supply carts, with Lieutenant Kiser personally accounting for fifteen of the targets destroyed. During the ensuing attack the flight came under an extremely heavy flak barrage of forty and twenty millimeter guns. At this time Lieutenant Kiser's aircraft was hit and damaged by the enemy ground fire. Even though his aircraft had been damaged, he continued to seek out targets, and with darkness coming on, he located two enemy trucks, attacking and destroying one of the vehicles and inflicting heavy damage on the other. During the entire attack Lieutenant Kiser repeatedly exposed himself to the heavy enemy flak and after attacking all targets he had located, he then proceeded to attack the enemy gun positions. Darkness had set in by this time and he was only able to locate the targets by their flashes. The duel lasted until lack of fuel and ammunition forced Lieutenant Kiser to break off the attack, but not before he had inflicted damage on the gun positions and killed approximately ten enemy soldiers. Lieutenant Kiser led his flight back through the below marginal weather and made a night instrument let down at his home base with all aircraft landing safely. He demonstrated outstanding skill and leadership in accomplishing this highly successful mission flown under these adverse conditions. The results of this strike will highly effect the potential of the enemy. By his high personal courage, outstanding skill and devotion to duty, Lieutenant Kiser has brought great credit upon himself and the United States Air Force.
General Orders: All Hands - January 1953
The President of the United States of America takes pleasure in presenting the Distinguished Flying Cross to Aviation Electronicsman First Class Jack D. Knox, United States Navy, for heroism and extraordinary achievement in aerial flight as a Member of a Patrol Plane Crew in Patrol Squadron Forty-Seven (VP-47), during operations against enemy aggressor forces in Korea, from 2 July to 25 December 1950. Completing thirty-five combat missions during this period, he participated in daring strikes against the enemy in the face of imminent hostile anti-aircraft fire and aerial opposition. By his outstanding skill, courage and loyal devotion to duty throughout, he contributed materially to the success of his squadron and upheld the highest traditions of the United States Naval Service.
The President of the United States takes pleasure in presenting the Distinguished Flying Cross to Lieutenant, Junior Grade, Kenneth C. Kramer for heroism and extraordinary achievement in aerial flight as Pilot of a Jet Fighter Plane attached to Fighter Squadron Fifty One, based on board the U.S.S. Valley Forge, during operations against enemy aggressor forces in Korea on 3 May 1953. Although encountering intense hostile machine-gun and small-arms fire while he was leading his section of jet fighters on a strike against an enemy troop billeting and vehicle staging area, Lieutenant, Junior Grade, Kramer scored a direct hit on a concentrated group of buildings which exploded and sprayed flaming fuel over an area where two thousand hostile troops were believed to be billeted. Continuing the attack, he led his section in eight effective bombing and low-level strafing runs on the gasoline storage area and personally caused two more secondary explosions while his flight obtained three in the same vicinity leveling a large area and leaving raging fires. During these attacks, more than seventy-five buildings were destroyed and eighteen damaged. By his superb airmanship, courage and inspiring leadership, Lieutenant, Junior Grade, Kramer contributed immeasurably to the success of the assigned mission and upheld the highest traditions of the United States Naval Service.