Henry D. Menzies

The President of the United States takes pleasure in presenting the Silver Star Medal to Henry D. Menzies (0-23941), Captain, U.S. Marine Corps, for conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity in action against the enemy while serving with the FIRST Marine Air Wing, in Korea, from 1 December 1950 to 7 December 1950. Captain Menzies, as Command Pilot of an R-4D transport aircraft, made numerous landings and take-offs from extremely small and hastily constructed airstrips located at Koto-ri and Hagaru-ri, Korea. A concentration of enemy troops, estimated to number seventy-thousand, completely surrounded these airstrips and at Koto-ri strip, enemy troops were entrenched within two hundred yards. Take-offs and landings were made directly into enemy small arms fire and the possibility of attacks from enemy aircraft was always present. Despite these hazards, Captain Menzies successfully landed twelve loads of urgently needed ammunition, food and medical supplies to the FIRST Marine Division and other elements of the TENTH Army Corps who were surrounded in the Chosin Reservoir area of Korea. He also made twelve take-offs, with his plane dangerously overloaded with sick, wounded, and frost-bitten comrades and delivered them safely to a rear area. The outstanding pilot ability and exceptional judgment exhibited during this period of grave danger was in keeping with the highest traditions of the United States Naval Service.