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Roland Russell Batson, Jr. |
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Engagements: • Korean War (1950 - 1953) |
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| Biography: | ||||
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Lieutenant Junior Grade Batson was a pilot of a AD-3 Skyraider fighter with Attack Squadron 35, aboard the USS Leyte (CV-32). On 11 November 1950, he was conducting strikes on a bridge on the Tongno River between Chongjin and Namsan-ni. He crash landed about one mile north northeast from Kwick-tong. He was seen walking away from the aircraft but was never recovered. He was presumed dead on 30 March 1954. His name is inscribed on the Courts of the Missing at the Honolulu Memorial. For his leadership and valor, Lieutenant Junior Grade Batson was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross, the Air Medal, the Combat Action Ribbon, the Korean Service Medal, the United Nations Service Medal, the National Defense Service Medal, the Korean Presidential Unit Citation and the Republic of Korea War Service Medal. Awarded for actions during the Korean War: The President of the United States of America takes pride in presenting the Distinguished Flying Cross (Posthumously) to Lieutenant, Junior Grade Roland Russell Batson, Jr. (NSN: 0-122817), United States Navy, for heroism and extraordinary achievement while participating in aerial flight in a strike against an enemy North Korean supply route. On 11 November 1950, Lieutenant, Junior Grade, Batson, as leader of two divisions of Skyraider dive bombers, in an attack on a railway bridge over the Tongno River, suffered engine failure in his dive, due to enemy anti-aircraft fire. Despite his engine failure, and in the face of continued accurate fire, Lieutenant, Junior Grade, Batson displayed superb qualities of leadership and cool judgment in extreme emergency and continued his dive, pinpointing his bombs on the bridge. Thus through his courage and zealous devotion to duty, Lieutenant, Junior Grade, Batson, with utter disregard for his own personal safety, set an example for the remainder of his flight to follow, contributing materially to the destruction of this main enemy supply route before he abandoned the attack and executed a skillful wheels-up landing in a nearby rice field. Lieutenant, Junior Grade, Batson's actions throughout reflect highest credit upon himself and the United States Naval Service.General Orders: Board Serial 465 (May 4, 1951) Action Date: November 11, 1950 Service: Navy Rank: Lieutenant Junior Grade Company: Attack Squadron 35 (VA-35) Division: U.S.S. Leyte (CV-32) |
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| Honoree ID: 224535 | Created by: MHOH | |||
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