The President of the United States of America takes pleasure in presenting the Silver Star to Captain George B. Woodbury (MCSN: 0-7141), 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 5 August 1952. Participating as Section Leader of a Rescue Combat Air Patrol assigned the mission of providing cover for a helicopter in picking up a downed pilot deep in enemy territory, Captain Woodbury courageously maintained an extremely low orbit under adverse weather conditions and, despite intense and sustained automatic weapons and small arms fire, kept the downed airman in sight until the helicopter arrived and completed the rescue approximately twenty minutes later. Despite continued enemy fire, impending darkness and the threat of the almost exhausted fuel supply of the helicopter, he successfully escorted the rescue plane to safety. By his superb airmanship and tenacious devotion to duty in the face of hazardous flying conditions and strong enemy opposition, Captain Woodbury greatly aided in the success of the mission and upheld the highest traditions of the United States Naval Service.