(Citation Needed) – SYNOPSIS: Lieutenant Commander [then Lieutenant] Eugene Anthony Valencia (NSN: 0-113030), United States Naval Reserve, was awarded a Silver Star in lieu of a Sixth Award of the Distinguished Flying Cross for extraordinary achievement while participating in aerial flight during World War II.

The President of the United States of America takes pleasure in presenting a Second Gold Star in lieu of a Third Award of the Distinguished Flying Cross to Lieutenant Commander [then Lieutenant] Eugene Anthony Valencia (NSN: 0-113030), United States Naval Reserve, for extraordinary achievement while participating in aerial flight as Pilot of a Fighter Plane in Fighting Squadron NINE, attached to the U.S.S. LEXINGTON, in action against enemy Japanese forces in the Tokyo Area, Japan, on 17 February 1945. Leading his division in a fighter sweep over the Japanese homeland despite adverse weather conditions, he braved the enemy anti-aircraft fire to strafe an important airfield and, when numerically superior hostile fighter planes attacked the flight on its way to a second target, shot down one of the enemy craft. Recovering quickly, he immediately shot down another enemy plane, thereby contributing materially to the success of the mission. His actions were in keeping with the highest traditions of the United States Naval Service.

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 Lieutenant Commander [then Lieutenant] Eugene Anthony Valencia (NSN: 0-113030), United States Naval Reserve, for extraordinary achievement while participating in aerial flight as Pilot of a Fighter Plane in Fighting Squadron NINE, attached to the U.S.S. ESSEX, in action against enemy Japanese forces in the vicinity of Rabaul, New Britain and the Solomon Islands, on November 11, 1943. Assigned to escort the striking group in the attack against enemy shipping in Rabaul Harbor, he made three strafing runs on a heavy cruiser in the face of intense anti-aircraft fire and assisted in covering torpedo planes retiring from the target, personally shooting down one enemy fighter. When enemy planes attacked his Task Force later in the day, he opened fire upon the hostile craft despite intense fire from our own ships to destroy one dive bomber and one torpedo plane and aid in the destruction of another torpedo plane. His actions were in keeping with the highest traditions of the United States Naval Service.

The President of the United States of America takes pleasure in presenting the Distinguished Flying Cross to Lieutenant Commander [then Lieutenant] Eugene Anthony Valencia (NSN: 0-113030), United States Naval Reserve, for heroism and extraordinary achievement in aerial flight as Pilot of a Fighter Plane, in action against enemy Japanese forces at Truk Atoll, Caroline Islands, 16 February 1944. When his division was attacked by swarms of hostile fighters as they were making a pre-dawn fighter sweep against the Japanese stronghold at Truk, he instantly turned to meet the challenge and, fighting his plane aggressively and with great skill, sent three Japanese planes crashing in flames. Subsequently participating in a daring attack on shipping later in the day, he made repeated strafing runs on an enemy destroyer in the face of intense anti-aircraft barrages to start several fires and inflict considerable damage to this combatant ship. His actions were in keeping with the highest traditions of the United States Naval Service.

The President of the United States of America takes pleasure in presenting a Fourth Gold Star in lieu of a Fifth Award of the Distinguished Flying Cross to Lieutenant Commander [then Lieutenant] Eugene Anthony Valencia (NSN: 0-113030), United States Naval Reserve, for extraordinary achievement while participating in aerial flight in action against enemy Japanese forces in the vicinity of Okinawa on 11 May 1945. Participating in combat air patrol in defense of our Fleet units on station north of Okinawa, he intercepted a large group of attacking hostile aircraft, and maneuvering his division for a counter-attack, personally shot down three enemy fighters and contributed to the destruction of numerous others. His actions were in keeping with the highest traditions of the United States Naval Service.