The President of the United States of America takes pleasure in presenting a Second Gold Star in lieu of a Third Award of the Distinguished Flying Cross to Lieutenant Harrell Henry Scales, United States Navy, for heroism and extraordinary achievement in the line of his profession while participating in aerial flight under fire as a Fighter Pilot in Fighting Squadron THIRTY-ONE (VF-31), embarked in the U.S.S. Cabot (CVL-28), during operations against enemy Japanese forces in the Marianas and the Ryukyu Areas from 18 June to 10 July 1944. Completing his twentieth flight during this period, Lieutenant Sales pressed home strafing attacks on an enemy fuel dump, a small craft, and other installations and, during a combat air patrol, successfully engaged and shot down a hostile four-engined plane seeding to attack our forces. His airmanship and devotion to duty were in keeping with the highest traditions of the military service and reflect great credit upon himself and the United States Naval Service.