The President of the United States of America takes pleasure in presenting the Silver Star to Major Henry Clay Dewey (MCSN: 0-63819), United States Marine Corps, for conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity in action while serving with Marine All Weather Attack Squadron TWO HUNDRED FORTY-TWO (VMA(AW)-242), in connection with combat operations against the enemy in the Republic of Vietnam. On 27 October 1967, Major Dewey launched as Pilot in the second A-6 attack aircraft in a flight of two assigned a night interdiction mission against a vital highway and railroad bridge in the midst of a heavily defended area in North Vietnam. Aware that his aircraft had come under enemy radar surveillance as he neared the target area, Major Dewey displayed exceptional aeronautical ability as he commenced a high speed, low level flight at 200 feet altitude through the darkness over hazardous terrain in the face of increasingly intense hostile fire, all the while maintaining a precise distance from the flight leader’s aircraft. Undaunted by the enemy’s integrated surface-to-air missiles and radar controlled anti-aircraft weapons, the large number of barrage balloons trailing cables to the ground throughout the target area and the threat of hostile aircraft from a nearby airfield, he courageously maintained a low flight level in the target area to break the enemy radar lock on his aircraft. Flying through an extremely heavy volume of anti-aircraft fire, at the last possible moment, he climbed to his bomb release point over the target. Despite the failure of his outboard wing stations to release their bombs, he released the balance of his ordnance with pinpoint accuracy on target. Warned of two missiles launched against the flight, he immediately took evasive action, only to discover that another missile was locked on to his aircraft. Displaying outstanding skill and composure in the face of great peril, he maneuvered his aircraft to avoid the missile, succeeded in releasing the bombs under his wings and expeditiously departed the area. By his outstanding courage, superior airmanship and selfless devotion to duty at great personal risk, Major Dewey was instrumental in accomplishing the hazardous mission and upheld the highest traditions of the Marine Corps and of the United States Naval Service.