MAJOR KENNETH L. REUSSER, USMC is presented the Gold Star in lieu of a second Navy Cross for extraordinary heroism as Pilot of a Fighter Plane in Marine Fighter Squadron TWO HUNDRED FOURTEEN, attached to the U.S.S. SICILY, during an aerial attack on enemy targets in the Inch’on Area of Korea, on 5 August 1950. As Flight Leader of a Combat Air Patrol assigned the mission of seeking targets of opportunity, Major Reusser led his flight in a strafing attack against a hostile factory, destroying several vehicles and 30 of the enemy in a truck despite intense and accurate hostile antiaircraft fire. Suspecting that the strong defenses protected vehicles of war, he ordered his flight to orbit the target at 3000 feet while he investigated the factory at window-level and, on his second pass made in the face of automatic fire coming from the windows, discovered that the factory was a vehicle and tank assembly plant. With both wings of his plane damaged by antiaircraft fire, he flew back to the U.S.S. SICILY and returned to the target with napalm and rockets, destroying the plant with napalm and blasting six completed enemy tanks and four trucks in the factory court yard in spite of accurate antiaircraft fire. This mission completed, he led his flight into the heavily fortified Inch’on Harbor and destroyed a large oil storage tank. Determined to inflict the greatest possible damage on the enemy even though his heavy ordinance was expended, he dived to within ten feet of a camoflaged oil tanker and raked the hull with his 20-mm guns, causing an explosion which not only destroyed the enemy ship, but also damaged his own craft and blew it out of control. Successful in returning his crippled plane to carrier base, Major Reusser, by his gallant fighting spirit, courage and devotion to duty, upheld the highest traditions of the United States Naval Service.

Col. Reusser joined the Legion of Valor in 1975 and resides in Oregon.
View Col. Reusser’s Navy Cross citation.