The President of the United States of America takes pleasure in presenting the Distinguished Flying Cross to Second Lieutenant Thomas F. St. Denis (MCSN: 0-55294), United States Marine Corps, for extraordinary achievement while participating in aerial flight as Pilot of a plane in Marine All Weather Fighter Squadron FIVE HUNDRED THIRTEEN during operations against enemy aggressor forces in Korea on the nights of 13 and 15 April 1953. Participating in the development and evaluation of searchlight-illuminated night close air support missions against heavily defended and well-entrenched hostile front-line positions, Second Lieutenant St. Denis conducted nine low-level bombing and strafing assaults against the enemy on both nights, despite intense hostile antiaircraft fire. Diving to minimum altitude, he skillfully maneuvered his jet fighter bomber through the precipitous terrain to score direct bomb hits on enemy bunkers, trenches and automatic weapons. By his exceptional bombing accuracy and outstanding initiative, Second Lieutenant St. Denis was greatly responsible for the success of missions that destroyed a major enemy strong point and substantially reduced pressure on front-line elements of friendly ground forces. By his skilled airmanship, courage, and steadfast devotion to duty, Second Lieutenant St. Denis reflected great credit upon himself and upheld the highest traditions of the Marine Corps and the United States Naval Service.