The President of the United States of America takes pleasure in presenting the Silver Star to Lieutenant John C. Smith, Jr., United States Navy, for conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity in action while serving in Fighting Squadron TWENTY-ONE (VF-21), attached to the U.S.S. MIDWAY (CVA-41), as Flight Officer of an F-4B Phantom aircraft during a mission in support of combat operations in Southeast Asia against North Vietnam forces on 17 June 1965. Lieutenant Smith engaged four and possibly six enemy aircraft, accounting for one confirmed kill and contributing to another, which diverted the remaining enemy planes form their threat to U.S. striking forces. With heavy anti-aircraft fire bursting throughout the patrol area, he maintained his vigil and attacked, seeking out and destroying the opposing enemy aircraft. He thus prevented damage to friendly strike aircraft in the area.