The President of the United States of America takes pleasure in presenting a Gold Star in lieu of a Second Award of the Distinguished Flying Cross to Captain Frank Ashe (MCSN: 0-30141), United States Marine Corps, for heroism while participating in aerial flight against the enemy and while serving as a pilot attached to a Marine Fighter Squadron in Korea. On 3 October 1951, Captain Ashe, in response to an urgent call for close air support from a forward air controller, took off with his flight from a forward air base. Despite adverse weather and hazardous terrain, he led his flight accurately and safely to the target area. Working in close conjunction with the forward air controller, he quickly located his target as a concentration of heavily defended, well entrenched enemy bunkers, containing many enemy troops and mortars. These weapons were pouring relentless fire on friendly forces and inflicting heavy casualties. Notwithstanding the intense and accurate automatic fire directed at the aircraft, Captain Ashe, with utter disregard for his own personal safety, coordinated his flight so as to most advantageously strike the enemy positions and initiated his attacks. Directing and leading the flight, he repeatedly attacked the objective until all bunkers were completely covered by napalm and bombs and his mission was successfully accomplished. As a direct result of his outstanding leadership and expert airmanship, thirty enemy troops were killed, four bunkers containing mortars were destroyed and the fire being received by friendly forces was silenced. Captain Ashe’s skillful flying and fearless devotion to duty were in keeping with the highest traditions of the United States Naval Service.