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 Captain William H. Beckett (MCSN: 0-24780), United States Marine Corps, for heroism while participating in aerial flight as the pilot of a fighter aircraft against the enemy in Korea on 14 January 1952. Captain Beckett, as a member of a flight of six corsairs, took off on an attack against the island of Changin-do. This island contained heavy concentrations of troops and supplies for a possible invasion of friendly islands. Captain Beckett’s primary mission was to bomb the buildings on the island. By means of accurate bombing, he routed several hundred enemy troops out into open fields and hills. Flying low, in the face of intense small arms fire, Captain Beckett acted as the spotter and staging attacks against the exposed troops. Captain Beckett scored two direct rocket hits on an enemy filled trench, causing a secondary fire which destroyed a store of supplies. The total results obtained by this flight were an estimated two hundred and seventy-five enemy casualties in the open area, and possibly many more casualties were obscured by destroyed buildings. Also damaged were several small boats on and near the beach, an enemy fuel dump and supplies. Captain Beckett’s skillful airmanship contributed materially to his destruction of the once strong enemy. His aggressiveness and undaunted devotion to duty were in keeping with the highest traditions of the United States Naval Service.