The President of the United States of America takes pleasure in presenting the Distinguished Flying Cross to First Lieutenant Thomas C. Allen (MCSN: 0-47809), United States Marine Corps, for extraordinary achievement while participating in aerial flight against the enemy in Korea on 14 January 1952. First Lieutenant Allen, as a division leader in a flight of four Ads, took off on a close air support mission at the request of the Joint Operations Center. The flight reported to an airborne controller who marked troops and bunkers near Sohui-ri, as the flight’s target. Leaving his flight at an orbiy point in the target area, First Lieutenant Allen made two low reconnaissance runs over the target to positively identify it and to verify the positions of friendly forces. First Lieutenant Allen, after rejoining his flight, then initiated a series of expertly executed bombing and strafing runs. In the face of intense enemy small arms and automatic weapons fire, First Lieutenant Allen scored four direct hits in the target area, inflicting severe damage and many casualties upon the enemy. The airborne controller credited the flight with ninety per cent coverage of the target area, including destruction of four bunkers and fifty enemy casualties. First Lieutenant Allen’s courageous leadership, efficient actions and fearless devotion to duty were in keeping with the highest traditions of the United States Naval Service.