The President of the United States of America takes pleasure in presenting the Distinguished Flying Cross to Lieutenant Commander Robert Stanek, United States Navy, for meritorious achievement while participating in aerial flight while serving as pilot of a fighter plane attached to Fighter Squadron ONE HUNDRED FIFTY-TWO (VF-152), on board the U.S.S. PRINCETON, on 3 May 1953. Lieutenant Commander Stanek, while flying as strike leader during a combat mission over Communist-held North Korea in the Hungnam area, coordinated a bombing and strafing attack on enemy installations resulting in the destruction of a power plant, sixty-eight buildings, and damage to a small industrial center, all of which was verified by photographic reconnaissance. Methodically selecting targets in the area, he personally led repeated attacks in the face of intense automatic weapons fire. During each attack he placed his own bomb on the target, clearly marking it for those following him. Lieutenant Commander Stanek further demonstrated his leadership and ability by expeditiously and successfully directing rescue operations in the case of a flight member who was forced to ditch his aircraft in the water within range of enemy machine gun fire. Quickly organizing his flight, he immediately began to harass the enemy by conducting repeated strafing runs against the enemy machine gun positions until the rescue helicopter arrived and picked up the downed pilot. His courageous action and superb airmanship contributed immeasurably to the success of the PRINCETON in its assigned missions and to the termination of the conflict with the Communist Forces in North Korea. His inspiring leadership and steadfast devotion to duty were at all times in keeping with the highest traditions of the United States Naval Service.