The President of the United States of America takes pride in presenting a Gold Star in lieu of a Second Award of the Distinguished Flying Cross (Posthumously) to Ensign Richard Merrill Rowell (NSN: 083448), United States Naval Reserve, for extraordinary heroism while participating in aerial flight, while serving as Pilot of an airplane in Naval Fighting Squadron, attached to the U.S.S. LEXINGTON (CV-2), in action against enemy Japanese forces in the Battle of the Coral Sea on 7 – 8 May 1942. With utter disregard for his own personal safety, Ensign Rowell zealously engaged enemy Japanese aircraft, thus contributing materially to the defense of our forces. This courageous and loyal devotion to duty was 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 Ensign Richard Merrill Rowell (NSN: 083448), United States Naval Reserve, for extraordinary heroism while participating in aerial flight, while serving as Pilot of an airplane in Naval Fighting Squadron, attached to the U.S.S. LEXINGTON (CV-2), when on 20 February 1942, in enemy waters, he made vigorous and determined attacks in the face of combined enemy machine gun and cannon fire against a formation of enemy heavy bombers, and he, with the assistance of his teammate, caused the destruction of one enemy bomber.