Mervin L. Henry

The President of the United States of America, authorized by Act of Congress, July 9, 1918, takes pleasure in presenting the Silver Star to Major Mervin L. Henry, United States Air Force, for gallantry in action against an enemy as pilot in an unarmed T-6 type aircraft on 26 May 1951. While on a late evening reconnaissance mission in the vicinity of Inje, Korea, Major Henry observed a large concentration of enemy troops in full retreat. The number was conservatively estimated to be between three thousand and five thousand, accompanied by tanks, heavy vehicles, personnel carriers and pack animals. Major Henry made contact with a flight of fighter type aircraft, and under heavy enemy machine gun fire made low passes to direct them against the enemy forces. Despite growing darkness and lowering weather conditions, Major Henry remained in the area to direct the fire of two light bombers that had been sent to him for control. In total, Major Henry spent more than three hours in the target area directing the fighter and light bombers. Darkness and weather prevented full assessment of the damage inflicted against the enemy force, but it is estimated that a minimum of five hundred casualties were inflicted against the troop concentrations, two trucks were known to be damaged, two others were seen to explode and an unknown number of pack animals were killed. Major Henry’s courage under fire and his devotion to duty were in keeping with the highest tradition of the service and reflected great credit upon himself, the Far East Air Forces, and the United States Air Force.