The President of the United States of America takes pleasure in presenting a Third Gold Star in lieu of a Fourth Award of the Distinguished Flying Cross to Lieutenant Colonel Arthur H. Adams (MCSN: 0-6051), United States Marine Corps, for extraordinary achievement while participating in aerial flight against the enemy in Korea. On 22 December 1952, Lieutenant Colonel Adams led a flight of Marine jet fighter-bombers against heavily defended enemy front line forces engaged in combat with elements of the FIRST Marine Division. As the flight approached the objective area, a low cloud formation so reduced visibility that positive target identification was extremely difficult. Because of the extreme proximity of the friendly forces and despite intense hostile automatic weapons fire, Lieutenant Colonel Adams made a low reconnaissance run beneath the overcast in order to locate the enemy trenches and mortar positions. When positive of his target, he initiated a daring assault in the face of concentrated defensive fire, scoring direct hits with all his bombs on an enemy personnel shelter and heavy mortar emplacement. His accurate marking of the obscure target enabled the remaining elements of his flight to execute a highly effective attack that completely destroyed the enemy positions. Lieutenant Colonel Adams’ bombing accuracy and exemplary leadership were largely responsible for the success of a mission that substantially reduced hostile pressure on friendly troops.

The President of the United States of America takes pleasure in presenting a Fourth Gold Star in lieu of a Fifth Award of the Distinguished Flying Cross to Lieutenant Colonel Arthur H. Adams (MCSN: 0-6051), United States Marine Corps, for extraordinary achievement while participating in aerial flight against the enemy in Korea from 10 January 1953 to 13 January 1953, during a series of massed aerial assaults on a heavily defended bridge complex in the vicinity of Sinanju. Confronted by intense defensive fire and under constant threat of attack by superior jet interceptors, Lieutenant Colonel Adams led his squadron in three separate aerial assaults on the target area. In the face of concentrated enemy fire, he initiated a dive bombing attack on a series of enemy gun emplacements, personally scoring direct bomb hits that silenced several of the hostile weapons, thus effectively suppressing the flak over the main target area. Leading his squadron on two successive missions in the same area, by his daring attacks he again neutralized the enemy anti-aircraft and automatic weapons defending the vital bridge complex. Lieutenant Colonel Adams by his aggressive leadership and exceptional bombing accuracy contributed materially to the successful disruption of the re-supply of the enemy front line troops and the destruction of vital transportation facilities and equipment.