The President of the United States of America takes pleasure in presenting the Distinguished Flying Cross to Lieutenant, Junior Grade Felix E. Blum (NSN: 0-537970), United States Naval Reserve, for heroism and extraordinary achievement in aerial flight as Pilot of a Fighter Plane attached to Fighter Squadron ONE HUNDRED FIFTY-ONE (VF-151), on board the U.S.S. BOXER (CV-21), during operations against enemy aggressor forces in Korea on 24 May 1953. Participating in a night heckler mission over hostile territory, Lieutenant, Junior Grade, Blum repeatedly pressed home his attacks on a heavily loaded train with concentrated bombing and 20-mm. fire despite reduced visibility and rugged mountainous terrain. Attacking at low altitudes, which enabled the enemy to direct intense anti-aircraft fire upon his aircraft, he personally destroyed three boxcars, damaged the locomotive and two other boxcars, and caused one large secondary explosion and one rail cut. By his skilled airmanship, marked courage and zealous devotion to duty, Lieutenant, Junior Grade, Blum contributed materially to the success of the assigned mission and upheld the highest traditions of the United States Naval Service.