The President of the United States of America takes pleasure in presenting the Silver Star to Captain Ray J. Graham (MCSN: 0-38233), United States Marine Corps, for conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity as a Pilot and Division Leader in Marine Fighter Squadron THREE HUNDRED TWELVE (VMF-312), in action against enemy aggressor forces in Korea on 16 October 1951. Leading his division in an attack against a heavily defended bridge on the enemy’s main supply route south of Sunchon, Captain Graham personally scored a direct hit on the target with a 1,000-pound bomb and skillfully directed his flight in placing a second bomb on the objective, destroying two of the three bridge spans. Learning that two aircraft had sustained major damage from hostile flak while he was leading his flight from the target area, he immediately instituted effective emergency rescue measures, insuring that one of the damaged planes received an escort to the waters of the enemy coast in sufficient time for the pilot to execute a successful water landing and alerting a friendly agency to pick up the airman. When the pilot of the second damaged aircraft was forced to crash-land in an area infested with large numbers of hostile troops a short distance from the target, Captain Graham initiated a daring covering action and, although his plane was repeatedly hit by intense enemy anti-aircraft fire, bravely persevered in his task throughout a period of 70 minutes until advised that the rescue of the downed airman was impossible. By his courageous leadership, outstanding ability as an airman and selfless efforts in behalf of his fellow pilots, Captain Graham upheld the highest traditions of the United States Naval Service.