The President of the United States of America takes pleasure in presenting the Distinguished Flying Cross to Captain Donald A. Beam (MCSN: 0-47492), United States Marine Corps, for extraordinary achievement while participating in aerial flight against the enemy in Korea. On 28 November 1952, Captain Beam led a flight of Marine attack aircraft assigned a mission of seeking out and destroying enemy automatic weapons then firing on elements of the FIRST Marine Division. Disregarding a malfunctioning engine that prevented his gaining normal approach altitude, Captain Beam proceeded to the objective area at an intermediate altitude below the remainder of his flight. Upon arrival, he promptly located the camouflaged enemy weapons and initiated the attack through intense defensive fires, effectively marking the target with direct hits by his own bombs. He then directed the other elements of the flight in the complete destruction of enemy bunkers. Captain Beam’s skillful and resolute leadership, courageous conduct and steadfast devotion to duty were in keeping with the highest traditions of the United States Naval Service.