The President of the United States of America takes pride in presenting the Distinguished Flying Cross (Posthumously) to Lieutenant Commander Richard M. Swenson, United States Navy, for extraordinary achievement while participating in aerial flight as a Pilot of Torpedo Squadron TWENTY-FOUR (VT-24) embarked in the U.S.S. BELLEAU WOOD (CVL-24) during World War II. Lieutenant Commander Swenson led numerous vital bombing strikes against enemy shipping, airfields and installations. In support of landing operations at Hollandia he pressed home powerful attacks in the face of persistent anti-aircraft fire, accurately releasing his bombs at perilously low altitudes.