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] Clyde Boggs Marshall, United States Navy, for heroism and extraordinary achievement in aerial flight as Commanding Officer of Torpedo Squadron SEVEN (VT-7), attached to the U.S.S. HANCOCK (CV-19), in action against enemy Japanese forces over Kiirun, Formosa, 13 October 1944. Forced by treacherous weather to make an instrument approach to the cloud-obscured target while leading his flight of torpedo planes in a daring glide-bombing attack against Japanese harbor installations and shipping, Lieutenant Commander Marshall unhesitatingly plunged through an accurate and merciless barrage of heavy and medium radar-controlled anti-aircraft fire from hostile guns to press home his aggressive attack and, releasing a 2,000-pound bomb at a perilously low altitude, scored a devastating hit on a large enemy shipyard installation in the harbor. A forceful and determined leader, Lieutenant Commander Marshall, by his superb airmanship, intrepidity and valiant fighting spirit in the face of grave peril, contributed directly to the infliction of extensive and costly damage on the concentrated military objectives in Kiirun harbor and to the ultimate success of our sustained drive against the Japanese in the Pacific War Area. His inspiring conduct and constant devotion to duty throughout reflect the highest credit upon himself and the United States Naval Service.


