The President of the United States of America takes pleasure in presenting the Distinguished Flying Cross to Lieutenant Commander John Risse Little (NSN: 0-77735), United States Navy, for heroism and extraordinary achievement while participating in aerial flight as Commander of Bombing Squadron NINETY-EIGHT (VB-98) in action against enemy Japanese forces in the Solomon Islands Area from October 29 to December 13, 1943. Serving as Division Leader and often as Flight Leader during this period of intense aerial activity, Lieutenant Commander Little courageously led two combined strikes against heavily fortified enemy installations and gun emplacements at Kahili Airfield, Bougainville, and fighting his plane with forceful determination, inflicted severe damage upon the runway and personally scored hits on hostile antiaircraft positions. Subsequently leading a vigorous assault on Kara Airfield, he maneuvered through intense enemy fire to release his own bomb over the airstrip with devastating results and later flew his craft at extreme range for an attack in the Matchin Bay area, destroying Japanese gun emplacements, an important command post and other vital buildings. Lieutenant Commander Little’s expert airmanship and resolute devotion to duty were in keeping with the highest traditions of the United States Naval Service.