The President of the United States of America takes pleasure in presenting the Distinguished Flying Cross to Second Lieutenant [then Marine Gunner] Robert Lee Dickey (MCSN: 0-9126), United States Marine Corps, for heroism and extraordinary achievement while participating in aerial flight as a Pilot in Marine Fighting Squadron TWO HUNDRED TWENTY-ONE (VMF-221), in aerial combat with an enemy seaplane near Midway Island, on 10 March 1942. Lieutenant Dickey was the pilot of a fighting plane in a command which was ordered to intercept and destroy the enemy plane. Despite difficult aerial combat conditions because of heavy cloud formations, in which the enemy plane took full advantage of his evasive tactics, Lieutenant Dickey pressed home this attack in an aggressive and effective manner which contributed to the destruction of the enemy four-engined seaplane, and, although wounded in the arm, he maneuvered his plane safely to Midway Island. His action throughout was in keeping with the highest traditions of the United States Naval Service.