The President of the United States of America takes pleasure in presenting the Distinguished Flying Cross to Major Neal E. W. Bredesen (MCSN: 0-20285), United States Marine Corps, for heroism while participating in aerial flight near Yonfyon-ni, Korea, on 9 March 1952, as a member of a Marine Attack Squadron based aboard the U.S.S. BAIROKO (CVE-115). While leading a two-plane Target Combat Air Patrol flight on the west coast of Korea, Major Bredesen was instructed by the amphibious off-shore controller to make a coastal reconnaissance and to look for targets of opportunity. Proceeding on this assignment, Major Bredesen elected to drop his five hundred pound bomb on an important road bridge near Sino-ri. In the face of intense small arms fire Major Bredesen attacked and completely destroyed the bridge. He then flew to the town of Yongyon-ni where he seriously damaged another bridge with two rockets. Saving his remaining ordnance, Major Bredesen made a hazardous and difficult low-level observation of a Mountainous area from which radar impulses have been received by off-shore patrol craft. Elaborately camouflaged cave entrances and other concealed constructions were observed on a steep mountain side. Major Bredesen informed his wingman of these latest positions and initiated several highly skillful, low-level rocket and strafing attacks on the reverse slope positions. These attacks required recovery over a ridge line from which small arms and automatic weapons fire was being received. Major Bredesen scored direct hits on the cave entrances and started several large fires that were still burning four days later. Additional fires that broke out almost immediately in other areas indicate that Major Bredesen had scored direct hit son a network of inter-connected tunnels that contained combustible materials belonging to the enemy. His courageous devotion to duty throughout was in keeping with the highest traditions of the United States Naval Service.