The President of the United States of America, authorized by Act of Congress July 9, 1918, takes pleasure in presenting the Silver Star to First Lieutenant Kenneth R. Bland (AFSN: 0-22818A), United States Air Force, for gallantry in action against an armed enemy of the United Nations as Lead Navigator-Bombardier of a B-26 Invader Attack Bomber of the 728th Bombardment Squadron, 452nd Bombardment Group (Light), FIFTH Air Force, on 30 November 1950. Leading a flight of four B-26 type aircraft in an attack against the Chinese Communist forces at Kunu-ri, Korea, Lieutenant Bland demonstrated outstanding gallantry, airmanship, and resourcefulness, the combination of which was greatly responsible for the safe evacuation of a large number of friendly forces from Kunu-ri. Lieutenant Bland planned and led a devastating attack against a huge ground force in such a manner that a major Communist advance was stalled. Lieutenant Bland, utilizing a self-invented bombsight, led his flight directly into the face of the enemy’s gunfire, dropping bombs with unusual accuracy. Even though his own aircraft was damaged and his face and hands numbed by the sub-zero airblast from a hole in his aircraft, Lieutenant Bland refused to leave his bombsight, pin-pointing his fragmentation bombs with deadly accuracy. Later reports indicated that this lone airstrike so stalled the enemy’s advance that friendly forces were allowed time to regroup over a wide front, and the trapped forces in Kunu-ri were able to escape. Through his keen professional ability, courage, and outstanding devotion to duty, Lieutenant Bland reflected great credit upon himself, the FIFTH Air Force, and the United States Air Force.