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, Junior Grade Edward Walter Toaspern, United States Navy, for heroism and extraordinary achievement in aerial flight as Pilot of a Fighting Plane in Fighting Squadron THIRTY ONE (VF-31), attached to the U.S.S. BELLEAU WOOD (CVL-24), in action against enemy Japanese forces over the coast of Japan, on August 15, 1945. When his flight intercepted a superior number of Japanese fighters attacking a formation of relatively slow British torpedo planes, Lieutenant, Junior Grade, Toaspern personally shot down two of the six hostile aircraft downed by his flight and contributed materially to the dispersing of the remaining airborne enemy planes. His skilled airmanship and courageous devotion to duty were in keeping with the highest traditions of the United States Naval Service.

The President of the United States of America takes pleasure in presenting the Distinguished Flying Cross to Lieutenant, Junior Grade Edward Walter Toaspern, United States Navy, for heroism and extraordinary achievement in aerial flight as Pilot of a Fighting Plane in Fighting Squadron THIRTY-ONE (VF-31), attached to the U.S.S. CABOT (CVL-28), in action against enemy Japanese forces in the vicinity of the Philippine Islands, September 13, 1944. Participating in a daring strike against hostile forces, Lieutenant, Junior Grade, Toaspern pressed home vigorous, low-altitude attacks through antiaircraft fire and in the face of a vastly superior number of enemy planes to shoot down two aircraft and to inflict damage on two more. His skilled airmanship, courage and devotion to duty were in keeping with the highest traditions of the United States Naval Service.

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, Junior Grade [then Ensign] Edward Walter Toaspern, United States Navy, for heroism and extraordinary achievement in aerial flight as Pilot of a Fighting Plane in Fighting Squadron THIRTY-ONE (VF-31), attached to the U.S.S. CABOT (CVL-28), in action against enemy Japanese forces in the vicinity of the Philippine Islands, September 21, 1944. Participating in a daring fighter sweep against an enemy-held airfield, Lieutenant, Junior Grade, Toaspern pressed home a furious, low-altitude strafing run to inflict damage on a grounded aircraft. Fighting his plane with skill and courage, he continued his relentless attack and blasted two Japanese planes from the sky. His superb airmanship, courage and devotion to duty were in keeping with the highest traditions of the United States Naval Service