(Citation Needed) – SYNOPSIS: The President of the United States of America, authorized by Act of Congress July 9, 1918, takes pleasure in presenting a Bronze Oak Leaf Cluster in lieu of a Second Award of the Silver Star to Captain Frank J. Westerman (AFSN: AO-697077), United States Air Force, for gallantry in action against an armed enemy as a Pilot of an unarmed H-19 Rescue Helicopter of the 6167th Air Base Group, FIFTH Air Force, in action in Korea, on 14 January 1953. An American pilot was shot down deep into North Korean territory, and was fired on as he parachuted from his damaged fighter. Enemy soldiers on the ground fired on him as he floated to the ground, and his three wingmen made strafing passes to keep the enemy from capturing him when he landed by parachute. Without fighter escort, Captain Westerman flew his unarmed Rescue Helicopter to the scene and lowered to hover through a hail of enemy automatic weapons fire, and recovered the pilot 30 minutes after he bailed out. While returning to friendly lines, Captain Westerman observed a number of enemy ground troops and directed a fighter attack against their position, sustaining damage to his own helicopter, before safety returning to base. The gallant actions and dedicated devotion to duty demonstrated by Captain Westerman, without regard for his own life, were in keeping with the highest traditions of military service and reflect great credit upon himself and the United States Air Force.

The President of the United States of America, authorized by Act of Congress, July 9, 1918, takes pleasure in presenting the Silver Star to Captain Frank J. Westerman (AFSN: AO-697077), United States Air Force, for gallantry in action against an armed enemy as a Pilot of an H-19 Rescue Helicopter of the 6167th Air Base Group, FIFTH Air Force, on 27 March 1953. On that date, Captain Westerman flew an unarmed helicopter on a rescue mission in the deepest penetration by helicopter into enemy-held Korean territory up to that date. Taking off from a forward island base during pre-dawn darkness, Captain Westerman flew to a point off the enemy’s coast line where he encountered intense ground fire. He then orbited until dawn, before proceeding into the target area. With utter disregard for his personal safety, and with grim determination to locate the downed airman, Captain Westerman began his search, remaining in enemy territory under intense ground fire for a period of one hour and fifteen minutes at altitudes ranging from fifty to seven hundred feet, in an area only twenty-six miles from the enemy’s Yalu River airfield complex. Although he was unsuccessful in locating the downed pilot, Captain Westerman’s determined attempt at great risk to his life was in keeping with the highest traditions of the military service, and reflected great credit upon himself, the FAR EAST Air Forces, and the United States Air Force.