(Citation Needed) – SYNOPSIS: The President of the United States of America, authorized by Act of Congress July 9, 1918, takes pleasure in presenting the Silver Star to Airman Second Class Thomas C. Thornton (AFSN: AF-6235710), United States Air Force, for gallantry in action against the enemy while serving as an aerial medical technician of an of an (H-19) Rescue Helicopter of the 3rd Air Rescue Squadron, FIFTH Air Force, in aerial operations in Korea, in aerial operations in Korea, in 1953. First Lieutenant Fabijan and his air-crew carried out a helicopter rescue 70 miles behind enemy lines to recover a Marine Corps pilot who had been shot down on a frozen reservoir and was surrounded by enemy, only 400 yards distant on one shore and 200 yards distant on the other. With bullets pinging off his helicopter on both sides, his helicopter flew in and hovered over the ice fifteen feet from the downed aircraft until the downed pilot could run to it for recovery. As the downed pilot raced to the helicopter, Airman Second Class reached out to pull him inside, and was hit in the hand by an enemy bullet. Despite his extreme pain, he reached out with the other hand and pulled him to safety. The gallant actions and dedicated devotion to duty demonstrated by Airman Second Class Thornton, without regard for his own life, were in keeping with the highest traditions of military service and reflect great credit upon himself and the United States Air Force.