The President of the United States of America takes pleasure in presenting the Distinguished Flying Cross to Lieutenant Emmett E. Banks, United States Navy, for heroism while participating in aerial flight against the enemy while flying with Marine Aircraft Group TWELVE on 2 December 1951, in the vicinity of Sangp’yong-ni, Korea. While on a deep support mission against a strongly defended enemy troop and supply concentration, Lieutenant Banks was instrumental in the destruction of a large ammunition dump and many supply and troop bunkers. Taking over the lead of the flight when the leader’s communications failed, he pin-pointed the target for his flight by scoring a direct hit on a large ammunition dump on his first run. Despite intense anti-aircraft fire which damaged several planes in the flight, Lieutenant Banks made numerous low-level strafing and rocket attacks, directing his flight on the troop and supply bunkers in the area. He departed the target area only when all targets were destroyed and the area obscured by the smoke of fires and secondary explosions. Throughout the attack, Lieutenant Banks displayed outstanding qualities of leadership, courage and aggressiveness which were in keeping with the highest traditions of the United States Naval Service.