COLONEL. FELIX M. HARDISON, received the Distinguished Service Cross for his extraordinary heroism in action near Milne

Bay, New Guinea, on 26 August 1942 during a Japanese seaborne assault. Although hampered by extremely adverse weather conditions, he sighted the enemy convoy, consisting of two light cruisers, one or two destroyers, and four armed transports, and divided his squadron into three flights to bomb separate targets. The runs were made at an altitude of two thousand feet. One transport was sunk, one cruiser sunk or damaged, and hits were scored on two other vessels. He then directed the flight to return to its base, but as his own bombs had failed to release, he returned alone to the target. In the face of accurate and intense antiaircraft fire, which seriously damaged his plane, he made twelve runs before he succeeded in releasing his bombs on an enemy warship. In this action, Colonel Hardison exhibited high courage and tenacity by dispersing the enemy convoy and forcing its withdrawal, and gained valuable time for Allied forces in the successful defense of this sector.

Col. Hardison joined the Legion of Valor in 1962 and resided in Texas.