The President of the United States of America takes pleasure in presenting a Third Gold Star in lieu of a Fourth Award of the Distinguished Flying Cross to Lieutenant Letson Samuel Balliett (NSN: 0-116564), United States Navy, for heroism and extraordinary achievement while participating in aerial flight against enemy forces on the China Coast on 16 January 1945. Lieutenant Balliett was strike leader and also leader of a group of Torpedo Planes in a bombing attack against heavy enemy shipping in the China Coast area. Although the attack was made in the face of intense anti-aircraft fire and extremely adverse weather conditions, he skillfully led the attack and personally scored a hit on a large freighter which subsequently sank. His leadership, skill and courage were in keeping with the highest traditions of the United States Naval Service.
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Awards Received
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Distinguished Flying Cross
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Distinguished Flying Cross
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Silver Star
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Distinguished Flying Cross
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Distinguished Flying Cross
Service:
United States NavyRank:
LieutenantBatallion:
Torpedo Squadron 80 (VT-80)Action Date:
January 12, 1945
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 Letson Samuel Balliett (NSN: 0-116564), United States Navy, for heroism and extraordinary achievement while participating in aerial flight against enemy forces on the China Coast on 12 January 1945. Lieutenant Balliett was pilot of a carrier-based Torpedo Plane in a torpedo attack against a convoy consisting of large enemy supply ships and escorting ships in the China Coast area. He skillfully led a section of planes on a torpedo attack conducted in the facer of anti-aircraft fire and personally scored a direct hit on a large freighter transport which subsequently sank. His courage, skill and fine leadership were a reflection of great credit on the United States Naval Service.
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Distinguished Flying Cross
Service:
United States NavyRank:
Lieutenant, Junior GradeAction Date:
October 31, 1943
Commander in Chief Atlantic: Serial 496 (February 4, 1944)The President of the United States of America takes pleasure in presenting the Distinguished Flying Cross to Lieutenant, Junior Grade Letson Samuel Balliett (NSN: 0-116564), United States Navy, for extraordinary achievement while participating in aerial flight as Pilot of a U.S. Navy Torpedo Bomber Plane in offensive action against an enemy submarine on 31 October 1943. Lieutenant, Junior Grade, Balliett was flying to the support of another plane which was shadowing an enemy submarine and directing relief to the scene. Immediately on sighting the surfaced submarine, Lieutenant, Junior Grade, Balliett commenced to dive. Hurriedly alerting his attack plans to conform to the submarine’s tactics, he made an extremely accurate attack on the U-Boat. This attack, delivered in close cooperation with a similar action by another bomber, resulted in the probable destruction of the submarine as verified by the large amount of oil and debris which rose to the surface on the completion of the coordinated attack. The expert airmanship, close cooperation, and aggressiveness which Lieutenant, Junior Grade, Balliett exhibited in executing his destructive attack on an enemy submarine were in keeping with the highest traditions of the United States Naval Service.
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Silver Star
Commander in Chief Atlantic: Serial 03876 (January 4, 1943)The President of the United States of America takes pleasure in presenting the Silver Star to Lieutenant, Junior Grade Letson Samuel Balliett (NSN: 0-116564), United States Navy, for conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity in the line of his profession while participating in an aerial bombing flight as Pilot of a United States Navy Torpedo Bombing Plane on 8 June 1943, when an enemy submarine was attacked. Lieutenant, Junior Grade, Balliett was on anti-submarine patrol when his radioman sighted an enemy submarine. He went into action immediately and with an extraordinary demonstration of airmanship in the face of enemy gunfire successfully attacked the submarine. Upon delivering his depth charge attack he returned still in the face of gunfire and delivered a strafing attack. In spite of gunfire the depth charge attack was accurate; four depth charges were dropped in line, the first two short, the third under the submarine midway between the conning tower and the stern and the last one over. All were spaced about 35 feet apart. The action described above in which an enemy submarine was undoubtedly severely damaged and forced to remain surfaced so further attacks could be made reflect great credit upon himself and upheld the highest traditions of the United States Naval Service.
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Distinguished Flying Cross
Service:
United States NavyRank:
LieutenantBatallion:
Torpedo Squadron 80 (VT-80)Action Date:
November 25, 1944
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 Letson Samuel Balliett (NSN: 0-116564), United States Navy, for heroism and extraordinary achievement while participating in aerial flight against enemy forces on 25 November 1944. Lieutenant Balliett was pilot of a carrier-based Torpedo Plane and leader of a division of planes in a torpedo attack against an enemy heavy cruiser in the Philippine Islands area. He pushed home the attack against this large and important enemy unit with extreme aggressiveness and skill. Although the mission was launched and conducted in the face of a continued enemy attack, he skillfully maneuvered his division into position for an attack and in the midst of anti-aircraft fire, scored a torpedo hit on this enemy ship. This heavy cruiser sank within a few minutes after the coordinated attack. His courage, skill and forcefulness clearly demonstrated in this important mission, were in keeping with the highest traditions of the United States Naval Service.