The President of the United States of America takes pleasure in presenting the Silver Star to Major Vincent J. Gottschalk (MCSN: 0-8353), United States Marine Corps, for conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity as Pilot of a Plane in Marine Observation Squadron SIX (VMO-6), in action against enemy aggressor forces in Korea, on 26 September 1950. With the enemy holding two strategic ridges commanding a road along which our troops were advancing, Major Gottschalk executed repeated low-level passes between the hills in an attempt to draw hostile fire and thereby warn the friendly column of an impending ambush. Flying a light unarmed plane without radio contact with our troops, he boldly exposed himself to fierce enemy fire in order to drop messages to the friendly forces. Despite severe damage to his plane inflicted by hostile small arms fire during his second pass, he bravely remained over the danger area until close support aircraft arrived and completely neutralized the enemy positions. By his marked courage, skilled airmanship and unswerving devotion to duty, Major Gottschalk was instrumental in preventing the ambush of our troops, thereby reflecting the highest credit upon himself and the United States Naval Service.