Named and Cased WWII / Korean War Silver Star, Distinguished Flying Cross and Air Medal Aviation Medal Group

The cased and named medals are those of John B. Daoust, who flew in combat with the Army Air Force in World War II and again, as a jet pilot, in the Korean War. In Korea Daoust was decorated with the Silver Star for gallantry with a citation that sounds as though it could have formed the basis for the film “The Bridges at Toko Ri”. That citation read as follows:

“The President of the United States of America, authorized by Act of Congress, July 9, 1918, takes pleasure in presenting the Silver Star to Captain John B. Daoust, United States Air Force, for gallantry in action on 20 February 1951 as leader of a flight of F-80 aircraft in an attack on enemy positions near Chuchon-Ni, Korea. Captain Daoust’s flight was assigned the mission of attacking enemy positions in a narrow valley which was heavily defended by anti-aircraft fire. While he was circling over the target, he observed two Navy aircraft make an attack on his assigned target, during which one was shot down and the other so seriously damaged that it was forced to leave. Since the terrain made it necessary to make single ship attacks down the valley, Captain Daoust elected to attack with only two aircraft. On the second strafing run Captain Daoust’s wingman was shot down. In spite of this he continued his attacks on the enemy positions with napalm, rockets and machine gun fire until his ammunition had been expended and succeeded in destroying five gun positions and inflicting heavy casualties on the enemy troops. The aggressiveness, devotion to duty and complete disregard for personal safety displayed by Captain Daoust 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.”

The medals in the group are as follows: Silver Star decoration, slot brooch with a soiled ribbon, in the titled black leather case with enamel lapel badge, ribbon bar, and extra length of ribbon. The decoration is hand engraved on one line “John B. Daoust”; a second cased Silver Star decoration, slot brooch, in the titled black leather case with enamel lapel badge and ribbon bar. The medal is engraved “John B. Daoust” on two lines. Interestingly, this medal has a horizontal oval recessed into the back of the medal and the name was engraved inside of this oval; Distinguished Flying Cross with oak leaf cluster, slot brooch, in the titled black leather case with enamel lapel badge and ribbon bar with oak leaf cluster. The medal is hand engraved on one line “John B. Daoust” (and there was evidently a slip of the engraving tool, crating a line that connects the “u” and the “s” in the last name; and the Air Medal with two oak leaf clusters, slot brooch, in the titled black leather case with enamel lapel badge and ribbon bar. The medal is hand engraved with large letters on one line “John B. Daoust”. The cases are in excellent condition, as are the medals, although the ribbon on one of the Silver Stars is soiled, as noted.