The President of the United States of America takes pleasure in presenting the Distinguished Flying Cross to Lieutenant, Junior Grade Joe L. Akagi (NSN: 505124), United States Navy, for heroism and extraordinary achievement in aerial flight as Pilot of a Fighter Plane in Fighter Squadron ONE HUNDRED NINETY-FOUR (VF-194), based on board the U.S.S. BOXER (CV-21), during operations against enemy aggressor forces in Korea on 26 July 1953. Flying as section leader on a strike against enemy rail installations in the heavily defended area of Tanchon, Lieutenant, Junior Grade, Akagi surprised a group of two hundred enemy troops repairing damaged rails and immediately initiated strafing attacks on a rail tunnel in which the troops had taken cover. Skillfully pin-pointing his bombing attacks, he succeeded in personally sealing both ends of the tunnel to trap the enemy troops. Despite intense and accurate enemy antiaircraft fire, he carried out additional attacks which severed three railroad bridges and caused two rail cuts. After expending his bombs, he strafed and silenced two active enemy positions to permit the remainder of his flight to complete their bombing attacks. By his expert airmanship, courageous initiative and unswerving devotion to duty, Lieutenant, Junior Grade, Akagi contributed in large measure to the success of the BOXER in its assigned missions and upheld the highest traditions of the United States Naval Service.