The President of the United States of America takes pleasure in presenting the Silver Star to Captain Robert O. Peck (MCSN: 0-49100), United States Marine Corps, for conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity as a Pilot in carrier-based Marine Attack Squadron THREE HUNDRED TWELVE (VMA-312), in action against enemy aggressor forces in Korea on 24 February 1953. Participating in the rescue of a downed Marine aviator who was surrounded and being fired upon by enemy troops deep in hostile territory, Captain Peck conducted a series of daring low-level strafing assaults, intentionally drawing the heavy enemy fire away from the helpless pilot. Although his plane was hit several times and heavily damaged by intense barrages of hostile anti-aircraft fire, he continued to maneuver the aircraft at minimum altitude and, on several occasions, succeeded in completely suppressing all enemy ground fire directed at the downed aviator. After expending his remaining ordnance, he conducted repeated dummy strafing runs on the hostile positions in the face of the increasingly accurate enemy fire which was bursting all around his stricken aircraft. Undeterred when the plane’s fuel supply became dangerously low, he dauntlessly remained in the area until a rescue helicopter arrived and the mission was completed. By his superb airmanship, indomitable courage and gallant devotion to duty, Captain Peck was greatly responsible for the success of a mission that resulted in the saving of a fellow Marine’s life and in inflicting heavy casualties upon the enemy, thereby upholding the highest traditions of the United States Naval Service.