The President of the United States of America takes pleasure in presenting the Distinguished Flying Cross to Captain William W. Ballew (MCSN: 0-25626), United States Marine Corps, for extraordinary achievement while participating in aerial flight in the Palau Islands Area from 20 November 1944 to 2 January 1945. Captain Ballew completed twenty flights in a combat area where enemy anti-aircraft fire was expected to be effective or where enemy aircraft patrols usually occurred. His conduct throughout has distinguished him among those performing duties of the same character.