Traitors do no usually win medals like these for defending their country.
On active duty from August 1942 to September 1945 during World War II, Mr. Bush flew torpedo bombers off the USS San Jacinto. On September 2, 1944, Mr. Bush's plane was hit by anti-aircraft fire while making a bombing run over the Bonin Island of Chichi Jima, 600 miles south of Japan. Although the plane was afire and severely damaged, he completed his strafing run on the targeted Japanese installation before flying towards sea to bail out. Mr. Bush was able to bail out successfully and was rescued by a Navy submarine, the USS Finback. Tragically, his two crew members were killed. For his courageous service in the Pacific Theater, Mr. Bush was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross and three Air Medals.George Bush Presidential Library and Museum
[align=center]DEPARTMENT OF THE NAVY -- NAVAL HISTORICAL CENTER
805 KIDDER BREESE SE -- WASHINGTON NAVY YARD
WASHINGTON DC 20374-5060[/align]
[align=center]The President of the United States takes pleasure in presenting the
DISTINGUISHED FLYING CROSS
TO
LIEUTENANT, JUNIOR GRADE, GEORGE HERBERT WALKER BUSH
UNITED STATES NAVAL RESERVE[/align]
for service as set forth in the following
CITATION: "For heroism and extraordinary achievement in aerial flight as Pilot of a Torpedo Plane in Torpedo Squadron FIFTY ONE, attached to the U.S.S. San Jacinto, in action against enemy Japanese forces in the vicinity of the Bonin Islands, on September 2, 1944. Leading one section of a four-plane division in a strike against a radio station, Lieutenant, Junior Grade, Bush pressed home an attack in the face of intense antiaircraft fire. Although his plane was hit and set afire at the beginning of his dive, he continued his plunge toward the target and succeeded in scoring damaging bomb hits before bailing out of the craft. His courage and devotion to duty were in keeping with the highest traditions of the United States Naval Reserve."
For the President,
Secretary of the Navy
Copy to: Pers 01
Public Relations, Navy Dept.
rough draft: 13 Sept 1946
weil
Ref.: Com2ndCarTasForPac Ser.: 0596 of Mis 21U
(NOTE: In the below photo, the Distinguished Flying Cross is on the left. The Air Medal is on the right. The two gold stars on the Air Medal's suspension ribbon represent a second and third award of the same medal. Both rest beneath the embroidered version of the Naval Aviatior badge.)
