The President of the United States of America takes pleasure in presenting the Silver Star to Major Richard H. Rainforth (MCSN: 0-24652), United States Marine Corps, for conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity as Pilot of a Plane in Marine Attack Squadron THREE HUNDRED TWENTY-THREE (VMA-323), in action against enemy aggressor forces in Korea on 23 October 1952. Leading a four-plane flight on a mission against enemy artillery positions which were firing on friendly forces, Major Rainforth immediately pressed home an attack and completely demolished a self-propelled gun with a direct bomb hit. After recovering from his dive, he sighted and destroyed a moving hostile tank with a second bombing attack conducted in the face of heavy and accurate anti-aircraft fire. Continuing to assail the target area, he bombarded and blew up a heavily defended enemy supply dump with three accurately placed bombs. With his ordnance expended, Major Rainforth rejoined two of his orbiting flight members whose planes were armed with napalm bombs, and led them in a daring attack that engulfed ten buildings and an enemy vehicle in flames, Carrying out a final assault with a third orbiting plane that lacked radio communication, he successfully employed hand signals to lead a destructive bombardment of a fortified enemy town. By his aggressive leadership, outstanding professional skill and unyielding devotion to duty under constant and intense enemy fire, Major Rainforth was largely responsible for the success of a mission that inflicted severe damage on the enemy and substantially reduced hostile pressure on friendly front line forces, thereby upholding the highest traditions of the United States Naval Service.