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

Citation:  1.) The President of the United States takes great pleasure in presenting the Distinguished Flying Cross to Ensign Don Van Slooten for extraordinary achievement while participating in aerial flight as Pilot of an Attack Bomber in Attack Squadron One-Hundred Ninety-Five attached to the U.S.S. Princeton (CV-37) in an attack on North Korean and Chinese Communist Forces at Myon Ni, Korea on 30 April 1951, while upholding the policies of the United Nation's Security Council. His primary mission was close air support of United Nation's ground forces under heavy fire from enemy positions located on top of a ridge. As he led his section into the target area, he was immediately brought under fire by intense heavy anti-aircraft fire. With complete disregard for his personal safety, he pressed home an attack on the enemy positions. Despite the fact that his aircraft was severely damaged on his first attack, he continued his napalm and strafing attacks to extremely low levels and is personally credited with the destruction of four mortar positions, one pillbox, and inflicting one hundred fifty casualties on enemy troops entrenched on the ridge. As a result of his determination and accuracy in hitting the enemy and leading his flight in their attack, the enemy fire on friendly troops was halted and the enemy was forced to retreat allowing friendly troops to occupy and secure the ridge. Ensign Van Slooten was then directed to lead his section in bombing attacks with their remaining fragmentation bombs on buildings housing enemy troops east of the Hwachon Reservoir. In the face of intense anti-aircraft fire, he bombed and strafed the buildings destroying ten buildings and inflicting casualties on an estimated fifty enemy troops. With his own ordnance expended, he continued to make deck-level reconnaissance of the area spotting targets for the other members of his flight to attack. Ensign Van Slooten's devotion to duty was at all times in keeping with the highest traditions of the United States Naval Service.