The President of the United States of America takes pleasure in presenting a Gold Star in lieu of a Second Award of the Distinguished Flying Cross to First Lieutenant Robert Wesley McClurg (MCSN: 0-16426), United States Marine Corps, for heroism and extraordinary achievement while participating in aerial flight as Pilot of a Fighter Plane in Marine Fighting Squadron TWO HUNDRED FOURTEEN (VMF-214), during operations against enemy Japanese forces in the Solomon Islands and Bismarck Archipelago Areas. Flying wing during a bold sweep over the heavily defended Rabaul Area on 17 December 1943, First Lieutenant McClurg engaged a numerically superior group of enemy fighters and, pressing home his attack vigorously, succeeded in blasting a hostile plane from the skies. On 23 and 28 December, he shot down three Japanese interceptor planes and probably destroyed two more, subsequently participating in determined strafing attacks against the shoreline which resulted in the sinking of two enemy barges and the annihilation of approximately one hundred of the enemy. By his superb airmanship and gallant fighting spirit, First Lieutenant McClurg contributed materially to the combat efficiency of his squadron, thereby upholding the highest traditions of the United States Naval Service.