The President of the United States of America takes pleasure in presenting the Distinguished Flying Cross to Captain Charles W. Budd (MCSN: 0-30617), United States Marine Corps Reserve, for heroism while participating in aerial flight against the enemy in Korea on 16 July 1952. Captain Budd, leading a flight of four attack aircraft, was assigned a mission of silencing enemy mortars that were inflicting heavy damage and casualties on the FIRST Marine Division. Without hesitation or regard for his own personal safety, he flew his aircraft through intense and accurate anti-aircraft fire in low level flights across the front lines to locate accurately the enemy positions. Captain Budd then rejoined his flight and expertly led them in a series of bombing, napalm and strafing attacks which destroyed three mortar positions and four bunkers, damaging one mortar position and five bunkers, and completely neutralized the enemy fire. Captain Budd’s courageous conduct and devotion to duty in the face of intense enemy fire were in keeping with the highest traditions of the United States Naval Service.