The President of the United States of America takes pleasure in presenting the Distinguished Flying Cross to First Lieutenant James H. Buckalew (MCSN: 0-23802), United States Marine Corps Reserve, for heroism and extraordinary achievement while participating in aerial flight against the enemy during the attack on Peleliu Island, Palau Group, from 19 September to 7 October 1944. First Lieutenant Buckley, while serving as a pilot attached to a Marine Observation Squadron, participated in twenty-seven flights, a total of fifty hours over enemy territory flying at dangerously low altitude. On 19 September 1944, he engaged in a flight over enemy territory, and at great personal danger, remained over the area during an intense artillery and aerial barrage, flying so low as to be under the shells’ trajectory, enabling his observer to bring more accurate fire upon the enemy supply areas. As a result of this action numerous oil dumps and warehouses were destroyed. On 24 September 1944, he and his observer located an enemy mortar position on Ngesebus Island after flying over the island several times at a very low altitude. Despite intense enemy small arms fire from the vicinity of the enemy mortar, First Lieutenant Buckalew remained over the area until artillery fire was brought to bear and the mortar destroyed. On the same date he and his observer saw a number of Japanese troops swimming toward the north end of Peleliu Island. He immediately directed amphibian tractors and our aircraft to the area with the resulting destruction of the enemy. His alertness and most efficient actions, and his fearless devotion to duty were in keeping with the highest traditions of the United States Naval Service.