The President of the United States of America takes pleasure in presenting the Distinguished Flying Cross to Captain Murl V. Alexander (MCSN: 0-28175), United States Marine Corps, for heroism while participating in aerial flight against the enemy, as a member of Marine Fighter Squadron THREE HUNDRED TWELVE (VMF-312), on 22 September 1951 in the vicinity of the North Korean city of Saktun-ni. While on a close air support mission, Captain Alexander led his division of four aircraft against a heavy concentration of enemy troops well entrenched in bunkers along a ridge line. Despite adverse weather conditions over the hazardous terrain, he pressed home his attack, scoring a direct hit on the open trenches with napalm, and at the same time sustaining several hits on his own aircraft from nearby anti-aircraft batteries. Despite the fact that his own aircraft was damaged, he directed his flight to continue their runs upon the troop emplacements while he diverted the enemy fire with a separate single-plane attack. Through a series of low level strafing and rocket attacks, he was able to silence the anti-aircraft batteries there by assuring the success of the mission. Captain Alexander’s courage, aggressiveness, and fearless devotion to duty were in keeping with the highest traditions of the United States Naval Service.