The President of the United States of America takes pleasure in presenting the Silver Star to Commander Douglas Farris Mow, United States Navy, for conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity in action on 24 and 25 October 1967 as Commander, Attack Squadron ONE HUNDRED SIXTY-FOUR (VA-164), embarked in U.S.S. ORISKANY (CVA-34). Serving as either the strike leader or alternate strike leader on three out of four major air strikes against the heavily defended Phuc Yen airfield, located north of Hanoi in North Vietnam, Commander Mow made major contributions to the planning, targeting, and weaponeering on all four strikes. Following participation in the strike on the runway and taxiways, Commander Mow proposed a plan subsequently adopted for ensuring maximum effectiveness of the three remaining strikes directed on the aircraft revetments. He personally led the first strike force which attacked six revetted aircraft parking areas containing three fighter aircraft. The force then attacked the taxiway linking the revetments, other outlying revetments from the runway, and various maintenance support equipment. Approaching the target, Commander Mow led his strike force through a series of missile attacks and exploding anti-aircraft projectiles, and then executed a precise, controlled attack on the assigned revetments. He scored direct hits on two of the revetments, while the remainder of his strike group completely engulfed the assigned target area. By his dynamic leadership, attention to detail, and heroic performance under intense hostile fire, Commander Mow contributed significantly to the reduction of the enemy’s air defense posture in one of the most important strikes of the hostilities. His courageous actions were in keeping with the highest traditions of the United States Naval Service.