Roscoe R. St. John

The President of the United States takes pleasure in presenting the Silver Star Medal to Roscoe R. St. John (0-29619), , U.S. Marine Corps, for conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity in action while serving as Pilot of a Fighter Plane in a Marine All Weather Fighter Squadron serving with the FIRST Marine Aircraft Wing, while acting as escort for a Navy Rescue Helicopter in enemy-controlled territory approximately forty-five miles southwest of Wonsan, Korea, on 22 October 1951. Captain St. John upon seeing the helicopter taken under intense enemy anti-aircraft fire deliberately and with disregard for his own personal safety, piloted his F7F fighter plane to an altitude approximately two thousand feet below the helicopter and repeatedly flew back and forth across the firing batteries successfully drawing the fire away from the helicopter, permitting it to proceed safely to a successful completion of the rescue mission assigned. By his superb airmanship, daring tactics and cool courage in the face of tremendous odds, Captain St. John contributed materially to the success of an extremely difficult rescue mission. His zealous devotion to duty throughout reflects the highest credit upon himself and the United States Naval Service.