The President of the United States of America takes pleasure in presenting the Silver Star to Captain Dean Wilker (MCSN: 0-27567), United States Marine Corps, for conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity as Pilot of a Plane in Marine All Weather Fighter Squadron FIVE HUNDRED THIRTEEN (VMF(AW)-513), in action against enemy aggressor forces in Korea on 9 September 1951. Despite the grave hazards presented by a combination of darkness, haze and mountainous terrain during a night intruder mission in the Singye Area, Captain Wilker continued to reconnoiter his assigned sector until he discovered a large group of enemy vehicles and immediately initiated a determined attack on the objective. Undaunted by the intense anti-aircraft fire directed at his plane, he pressed home a series of daring napalm, bombing and strafing runs on the target and, despite damage to his aircraft by hostile ground fire, persisted in his attacks until his ordnance was expended, completely destroying a large enemy fuel dump and ten loaded trucks and inflicting extensive damage on eight other vehicles. By his outstanding courage, superb airmanship and unswerving devotion to duty, Captain Wilker was directly instrumental in dealing a damaging blow to the enemy and upheld the highest traditions of the United States Naval Service.