Leonard N. Rummel

The President of the United States of America, authorized by Act of Congress, July 9, 1918, takes pleasure in presenting the Silver Star to First Lieutenant Leonard N. Rummel, United States Air Force, for gallantry in action against an enemy on 30 March 1951 as Aircraft Commander of a B-29 Special Weapons Aircraft. He flew a single aircraft mission against the strategically important railroad bridge at Sinuiju, which joins North Korea and Manchuria. Due to limitations on the equipment assigned to this mission, it was necessary that he fly at an altitude of seventeen thousand feet, which made the aircraft extremely vulnerable to anti-aircraft fire. Because of the extreme importance of this target as a means of supply and communications, the enemy was expected to defend it with all resources at his disposal. Upon arrival at the target without fighter escort, Lieutenant Rummel encountered heavy anti-aircraft fire and was repeatedly attacked by fifteen to twenty enemy jet fighter aircraft. In spite of this opposition, and two critically wounded airmen aboard, Lieutenant Rummel continued the attack against the target. With the upper turret, elevator trim and servo units shot away, and the oxygen and hydraulic systems destroyed, Lieutenant Rummel scored a direct hit on the target. Upon completion of the bomb run, he flew his badly damaged aircraft to an sir strip in Japan landing it skillfully without further damage to the aircraft and crew. Lieutenant Rummel’s leadership, courage and gallantry were in keeping with the highest traditions of the service, and reflected great credit upon himself, the Far East Air Forces, and the United States Air Force.