Marion Minnis graduated from the U.S. Naval Academy at Annapolis, Class of 1950. He retired as a U.S. Navy Captain.
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Marion Minnis graduated from the U.S. Naval Academy at Annapolis, Class of 1950. He retired as a U.S. Navy Captain.
The President of the United States of America takes pleasure in presenting the Legion of Merit to Captain Marion Lee Minnis, Jr. (NSN: 0-533041), United States Navy, for exceptionally meritorious conduct in the performance of outstanding services to the Government of the United States as Operations Officer for Commander Carrier Division SIX from August 1970 to August 1971. A strong leader and perceptive planner, Captain Minnis guided the Staff of Commander Carrier Division SIX through one of the most demanding periods of employment in the Mediterranean with the SIXTH Fleet in September 1970. The politico-military unrest in the Middle East developed into a crisis that endangered the safety of American citizens in Jordan. Captain Minnis responded in truly outstanding fashion by developing contingency plans which assured the responsiveness and rapid reaction so urgently required. Upon return to the United States, Commander Carrier Division SIX was tasked with developing the plans for the evaluation and employment of the CV concept. Captain Minnis directed the development of this evaluation plan in superb fashion with the most thorough and detailed staffing. His skillful and meticulous planning of the integration of the ASW and attack forces provided a significant contribution to the capability of U.S.S. SARATOGA (CVA-60) to carry out the CV mission in a multi-threat environment. Captain Minnis throughout has displayed analytical reasoning, objective judgment and the highest professional expertise and has contributed significantly to increasing the effectiveness of naval forces. By his consistently outstanding leadership and devotion to duty, Captain Minnis upheld the highest traditions of the United States Naval Service.
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The President of the United States of America takes pleasure in presenting the Silver Star to Commander Marion Lee Minnis, Jr. (NSN: 0-533041), United States Navy, for conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity in action as a Pilot of a jet aircraft while serving as Commanding Officer of Attack Squadron ONE HUNDRED TWELVE (VA-112), in U.S.S. KITTY HAWK (CVA-63), engaged in combat operations against North Vietnamese forces on 10 May 1967. Commander Minnis assumed the lead of a 35 plane strike against the Haiphong Thermal Power Plant (West) when both the strike leader and strike coordinator lost their radios. Flying as leader of the third division of a three division A-4 strike element, he quickly recognized the possible debacle and by calmly but forcibly taking charge formed the strike forces en route to the target. Although intensely opposed by enemy flak and surface-to-air missiles, Commander Minnis was able to avoid the opposition through expert airmanship and leadership while maneuvering his aircraft into the most advantageous position to strike the target. In doing so, he ordered the force to maintain flight integrity recognizing that extreme evasive maneuvering warranted by the intense flak and missiles would derogate the results particularly because of cloud cover over the target. Commander Minnis rolled in on the target through a hole in the clouds with the tight formation that had been maintained permitting the remainder of the strike aircraft to follow in short order. When his bombs failed to release because of an aircraft armament malfunction, he did not release manually for fear of hitting nearby housing, but pulled up once again into the intense flak site thereby protecting the other aircraft as they retired safely after delivering a devastating blow to the enemy. The gallantry and flawless leadership displayed by Commander Minnis in the face of great personal danger upheld the highest traditions of the United States Naval Service.