The President of the United States of America takes pleasure in presenting the Distinguished Flying Cross to First Lieutenant John T. Benjamin (MCSN: 0-22556), United States Marine Corps, for extraordinary achievement while participating in aerial flight in connection with military operations against the enemy in the Bismarck Archipelago Area from 1 March 1945 to 17 April 1945. First Lieutenant Benjamin completed twenty flights in a combat area where enemy anti-aircraft fire was expected to be effective or where enemy aircraft patrols usually occurred and on one or more of these missions such enemy opposition was encountered . His conduct throughout has distinguished him among those performing duties of the same character.