The President of the United States of America takes pleasure in presenting a Third Gold Star in lieu of a Fourth Award of the Distinguished Flying Cross to Lieutenant Colonel John W. Burkhardt (MCSN: 0-5851), United States Marine Corps, for extraordinary achievement while participating in aerial flight in the Solomon Islands Area from 18 March 1943 to 12 May 1943. Lieutenant Colonel Burkhardt completed sixty 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.

The President of the United States of America takes pleasure in presenting a Fourth Gold Star in lieu of a Fifth Award of the Distinguished Flying Cross to Lieutenant Colonel John W. Burkhardt (MCSN: 0-5851), United States Marine Corps, for extraordinary achievement while participating in aerial flight in the Solomon Islands Area from 19 June 1943 to 20 June 1943. Lieutenant Colonel Burkhardt completed eighty 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.

The President of the United States of America takes pleasure in presenting a Second Gold Star in lieu of a Third Award of the Distinguished Flying Cross to Lieutenant Colonel John W. Burkhardt (MCSN: 0-5851), United States Marine Corps, for extraordinary achievement while participating in aerial flight in the Solomon Islands Area from 24 December 1942 to 16 January 1943. Lieutenant Colonel Burkhardt completed forty 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.

The President of the United States of America takes pleasure in presenting the Distinguished Flying Cross to Major John W. Burkhardt (MCSN: 0-5851), United States Marine Corps, for extraordinary achievement while participating in aerial flight as pilot of a transport plane attacked to the South Pacific Air Transport Command from 15 July to 25 July 1943. During this period, Major Burkhardt assisted in the transportation of extremely vital supplies to our troops on New Georgia, British Solomon Islands. Due to the overgrown jungle terrain it was impossible to land his plane and he was forced to drop his cargo while in flight. Despite the lack of armament on his own plane, the constant aerial opposition and intense anti-aircraft fire, he piloted his plane at a speed in excess of the safety policy and went in at tree top level in order to insure delivery of the supplies to his comrades. Because of the bulk of his cargo, it was necessary to make numerous runs over his targets before total delivery could be consummated. By his courage, superior airmanship and unselfish devotion to duty, he contributed materially to the defeat and subsequent expulsion of the enemy from the above areas. His conduct throughout was in keeping with the highest traditions of the United States Naval Service.