AWARDED DFC: 1
CONFLICT/SPACE FLIGHT/EVENT:  -
MODEL:  -

Citation:  1.) The President of the United States takes pleasure in presenting the DISTINGUISHED FLYING CROSS to CAPTAIN JOSEPH R. L. MILLER, UNITED STATES MARINE CORPS RESERVE, for service as set forth in the following CITATION: For heroism and extraordinary achievement in aerial flight as Pilot of a Plane in Marine Photographic Squadron ONE during operations against enemy aggressor forces in Korea on 4 May 1953. Informed that friendly ships were sustaining serious damage while under heavy and accurate fire from enemy shore batteries situated near Wonsan, Captain Miller elected to simulate divebombing attacks from his totally unarmed aircraft in an effort to reduce the hostile fire. A daring and intrepid airman, he skillfully conducted a series of lowlevel simulated assaults which caused the enemy batteries to cease their fire. Realizing that the batteries were a constant threat to friendly ships, he repeatedly exposed himself to intense barrages of hostile antiaircraft fire at low altitudes to obtain complete photographic coverages of the installations. By his superb airmanship, Captain Miller was responsible for relieving pressure on friendly ships and securing valuable photographs of the enemy strong point. His courage, skill and devotion to duty throughout were in keeping with the highest traditions of the United States Naval Service.