The President of the United States of America takes pleasure in presenting the Distinguished Flying Cross to Second Lieutenant Herman C. Burns (MCSN: 0-34028), United States Marine Corps, for extraordinary achievement while participating in aerial flight in connection with military operations against the enemy in the Philippine Islands Area from 23 March to 6 April 1945. Second Lieutenant completed twenty flights in a combat area where enemy anti-aircraft fire was expected to be effective or where enemy aircraft patrols usually occurred and on one or more of these missions such enemy opposition was encountered. His conduct throughout has distinguished him among those performing duties of the same character.