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 John Browne (MCSN: 0-35984), United States Marine Corps, for extraordinary achievement while participating in aerial flight in action against North Korean forces on 27 September 1950, while flying as a member of Marine Fighter Squadron THREE HUNDRED TWENY-THREE (VMF-323) in close support of the friendly forces. Lieutenant Browne made a dangerously low level napalm attack on Hill 338, northeast of Seoul, Korea, which was heavily-fortified by the enemy forces and holding up our forces on their advance northward. With daring airmanship and superb accuracy Lieutenant Browne made a direct hit on the enemy position with his bomb and then made repeated low level rocket and strafing runs in the face of intense and accurate enemy automatic weapons and small arms fire. With his ordnance expended and with complete disregard for his own personal safety he made run after run of dummy attacks until our forces had overrun the enemy positions. His outstanding actions and devotion to duty were in keeping with the highest traditions of the United States Naval Service.