(Citation Needed) – SYNOPSIS: Lieutenant, Junior Grade Ledio Mariani, United States Navy, was awarded a Gold Star in lieu of a Second Award of the Distinguished Flying Cross for extraordinary achievement while participating in aerial flight as a Fighter Pilot in Fighting Squadron TWENTY-FOUR (VF-24), embarked in U.S.S. SANTEE (CVE-29), over the Ryukyu Islands, from 6 May 1945 to 11 June 1945.