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 Major Joseph A. Mitchell (MCSN: 0-23827), United States Marine Corps, for extraordinary achievement while participating in aerial flight against the enemy as a member of a Marine Fighter Squadron in Korea. On 3 June 1953, Major Mitchell led a division of Marine jet fighter-bombers on a close air support mission against heavily defended and well entrenched enemy positions that were opposing and inflicting damage on friendly front line forces. As he approached the target area a low cloud ceiling so reduced forward visibility that Major Mitchell instructed the flight to orbit out of range of hostile anti-aircraft fire while he definitely located the obscure objective. Diving to minimum altitude through an intense barrage of defensive fire, he promptly detected the carefully camouflaged target and initiated a daring low level assault. His direct bomb hits completely demolished the enemy stronghold. Major Mitchell then re-joined the orbiting aircraft and led them to another target where repeated dive bombing attacks on hostile heavy weapons emplacements destroyed fifteen enemy personnel shelters and damaged thirty-seven millimeter anti-aircraft weapons. His exceptional accuracy and exemplary leadership were largely responsible for the success of a mission that inflicted heavy enemy casualties and substantially reduced pressure on ground units of the United Nations forces. Major Mitchell’s courageous conduct reflected great credit upon himself and were in keeping with the highest traditions of the United States Naval Service.