The President of the United States of America takes pleasure in presenting the Distinguished Flying Cross to Aviation Radioman Third Class John A. Bodde (NSN: 3130918), United States Naval Reserve, for heroism while participating in aerial flight in operations against the enemy in the vicinity of Korea and over the home waters of the Japanese Empire during the period 27 June 1945 to 9 July 1945. As gunner and aircrewman on a patrol bomber he alertly performed his duties as to contribute to the acquisition of valuable information concerning hostile forces. By his skill and courage he played an important part in the attack and the damaging of eight enemy ships through gunfire during a single patrol, sticking to his post through intense anti-aircraft and firing his weapons with extreme accuracy. On another patrol he was by his vigilance and heroic devotion to duty instrumental in damaging two ships, destroying two locomotives and causing serious damage to a large gas plant or oil refinery. Throughout many combat missions his unswerving loyalty, his skill and valor, have always been in keeping with the highest traditions of the United States Naval Service.