Navy Federal Credit Union

Awards Received

  • Prisoner of War Medal

    Service:

    United States Air Force

    Rank:

    First Lieutenant

    Batallion:

    35th Fighter-Bomber Squadron

    Regiment:

    8th Fighter-Bomber Group

    Division:

    Prisoner of War (North Korea)

    Action Date:

    April 20, 1952 – September 2, 1953

    NARA Database: Repatriated Korean Conflict Prisoners of War, 7/5/1950 – 10/6/1954

    Lieutenant Maxey H. Wall, Jr. (AFSN: 0-708351), United States Air Force, was captured by communist forces after he was shot down over North Korea on 20 April 1952, and was held as a Prisoner of War until his release on 2 September 1953, during Operation Big Switch at the end of the war.

  • Silver Star

    Service:

    United States Air Force

    Rank:

    First Lieutenant

    Batallion:

    35th Fighter-Bomber Squadron

    Regiment:

    8th Fighter-Bomber Group

    Division:

    5th Air Force

    Action Date:

    April 20, 1952

    Headquarters, Far East Air Forces, General Orders No. 373 (July 30, 1952)

    The President of the United States of America, authorized by Act of Congress July 9, 1918, takes pleasure in presenting the Silver Star to First Lieutenant Maxey H. Wall, Jr. (AFSN: 0-708351), United States Air Force, for gallantry in action against an armed enemy of the United Nations as a Pilot of an F-80 Fighter-Bomber of the 35th Fighter-Bomber Squadron, 8th Fighter-Bomber Group, FIFTH Air Force, while on a rescue mission over North Korea on 20 April 1952. Having already flown more than the normal number of missions for one day, Lieutenant Wall volunteered in the late afternoon to return to a remote area and cover a downed pilot. Upon reaching the pilot, Lieutenant Wall’s flight encountered an intense barrage of small arms and automatic weapons fire. Realizing that effectiveness of the cover depended upon the absence of ground fire, Lieutenant Wall initiated a series of strafing passes which silenced several of the guns. When all other members of his flight had exhausted their ammunition, Lieutenant Wall sighted a gun still firing on the flight, and immediately attacked. During the attack in which he destroyed the gun position, Lieutenant Wall’s aircraft was hit and he was forced to bail out. Lieutenant Wall, by his superior airmanship and gallantry in the face of enemy fire, reflected great credit upon himself, the FAR EAST Air Forces, and the United States Air Force.