The President of the United States of America, authorized by Act of Congress July 9, 1918, takes pride in presenting the Distinguished Service Cross (Posthumously) to First Lieutenant (Air Corps) Samuel Heins Marett (ASN: 0-22854), United States Army Air Forces, for extraordinary heroism in connection with military operations against an armed enemy while serving as Pilot of a P-35 Fighter Airplane in the 34th Pursuit Squadron, 24th Pursuit Group, FAR EAST Air Force, in aerial combat against enemy forces on 10 December 1941, during an air mission against Japanese surface vessels at Vigan, Philippine Islands. Lieutenant Marett courageously led his squadron with markedly inferior armament in a concentrated attack on an enemy transport. Against a fury of protective firing he and his comrades strafed and re-strafed the invaders, causing great panic and destruction upon the troops packed on ships. Two transports burst into flames. In one final and successful straight dive against a third transport his airplane was caught in the resulting blast of the exploding transport and together with the intrepid pilot was destroyed. First Lieutenant Marett’s unquestionable valor in aerial combat, at the cost of his life, is in keeping with the highest traditions of the military service and reflects great credit upon himself, the Far East Air Force, and the United States Army Air Forces.