The President of the United States of America takes pleasure in presenting the Distinguished Flying Cross to Captain Mont L. Beamon (MCSN: 0-27904), United States Marine Corps, for extraordinary achievement while participating in aerial flight against the enemy in Korea, on 14 September 1951. Captain Beamon, as Section Leader of a flight of four F-9F’s took off on a close air support mission directed by the Joint Operations Center. The flight was directed by an airborne controller to attack enemy bunkers and troops dug in on a ridge near the town of Mumdung-ni. With complete disregard for his own personal safety, Captain Beamon made several low reconnaissance runs over the target in order to determine the exact positions of the bunkers to be destroyed. When the flight leader was hit by enemy fire during a napalm attack, Captain Beamon assumed command and despite intense enemy fire from small arms and automatic weapons, led a series of expertly executed napalm, bombing and strafing attacks upon the enemy positions. Captain Beamon personally scored two direct hits with napalm on the enemy bunkers, and his accurate bombing and strafing inflicted heavy casualties upon the enemy. When visual contact was lost, due to approaching darkness, he coordinated the attack by radio. Captain Beamon’s courageous leadership, efficient action and fearless devotion to duty were in keeping with the highest traditions of the United States Naval Service.