The President of the United States of America takes pleasure in presenting the Silver Star to Captain Charles L. Mullins (MCSN: 0-44184), United States Marine Corps, for conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity as a Pilot in Marine Attack Squadron THREE HUNDRED TWELVE (VMA-312), in action against the enemy aggressor forces in Korea on 27 December 1952. When a pilot was forced to parachute into the icy waters of the Taedong estuary after his attack plane was struck by hostile anti-aircraft fire during an aerial assault against a major enemy supply installation, Captain Mullins conducted low-level strafing runs against the hostile batteries firing from the nearby shore while the remainder of the flight took covering stations above the downed pilot. Informed that friendly helicopter and surface vessels were approaching the estuary, he rendezvoused with them through an intense barrage of enemy fire to act as guide and protective cover for the defenseless craft. During this stage of the rescue operation, a flight of hostile jet interceptors pressed a diving assault against the rescue facilities and were immediately engaged by the covering propeller-driven aircraft. Meeting the intruding enemy fighters with head-on firing runs whenever they broke through the defensive screen, Captain Mullins succeeded in thwarting their attacks on the rescue facilities. When the hostile aircraft finally disengaged, he momentarily resumed his strafing assaults on the enemy shore positions and subsequently escorted the withdrawal of a rescue boat that had been severely damaged by hostile shore battery fire. Although the fuel reserve in his plane had reached a dangerously low level, he bravely remained on station until other aircraft arrived and only then did he return to his carrier base, landing with practically empty fuel tanks. By his superb airmanship, indomitable courage and gallant efforts in behalf of a fellow airman, Captain Mullins upheld the highest traditions of the United States Naval Service.