Frank A. Minton, Jr.

The President of the United States takes pleasure in presenting the Silver Star Medal to Frank A. Minton, Jr. (0-43592), First Lieutenant, U.S. Marine Corps, for conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity in action against the enemy while serving with a Marine Observation Squadron, in Korea, on 4 December 1950. First Lieutenant Minton, serving as a Pilot of an unarmed observation plane, displayed outstanding skill, courage and confidence in the performance of his duties. On one occasion, while flying his plane over enemy lines, he observed signs of activity near two houses located in a valley deep in enemy territory. He immediately made a very low pass over the area, where he noticed that a distress message was written in the snow and that friendly troops were signaling to him via flashing rays of a mirror. Realizing that he would betray the position of the friendly troops if he circled their position, he continued the low pass through the valley, at the mouth of which his plane was struck by enemy fire. After informing units of the location of the trapped men, he then, despite the great personal danger involved, made successive flights over the friendly unit’s position, dropping food and ammunition to them. His aggressive actions and complete disregard for his own personal safety served as an inspiration for all who observed him and were directly instrumental in the rescue of the friendly troops. First Lieutenant Minton’s heroic actions were in keeping with the highest traditions of the United States Naval Service.