The President of the United States of America takes pleasure in presenting a Gold Star in lieu of a Second Award of the Navy Cross to Captain Elmer Glidden (MCSN: 0-6383), United States Marine Corps Reserve, for extraordinary heroism and distinguished service in the line of his profession while serving as a Pilot in Marine Scout-Bombing Squadron TWO HUNDRED THIRTY-ONE (VMSB-231), Marine Air Group TWENTY-THREE (MAG-23), FIRST Marine Aircraft Wing, in action against enemy Japanese forces in the Guadalcanal Area of the Solomons Islands from 30 August 1942 to 15 October 1942. In addition to almost daily participation in dangerous scouting and patrolling missions as far as 250 miles from his base at Guadalcanal Island, Captain Glidden, with courageous disregard for his own safety, led numerous flight missions in aggressive attacks on valuable enemy objectives. On two occasions, he led a division of planes in devastating raids on enemy landing boats at Santa Isabel and San Jorge islands, leaving practically all of the thirty-four boats at the former objective useless to the Japanese. In five other flights he struck smashing blows on two cruisers and six destroyers near Guadalcanal, inflicting severe damage on hostile installations at Cape Esperance, and demolished enemy buildings and strafed personnel at Visale Mission. His brilliant leadership, superb flying skill, and gallant devotion to duty were in keeping with the highest traditions of the United States Naval Service.