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 Aviation Machinist’s Mate Third Class Walter J. Bryant, United States Naval Reserve, for extraordinary achievement while participating in aerial flight. On 4 March 1945, while serving as Aircrewman of a Navy Liberator Search Aircraft, he contributed to the destruction of two enemy medium bombers in aerial combat which were engaged simultaneously. They were the fourth and fifth enemy planes shot down by members of this crew in less than three weeks. The intrepidity of his actions, the cool skill and aggressiveness with which he performed his duties were in keeping with the highest traditions of the United States Naval Service.