Korean War
| Service # | 521458 |
|---|---|
| Unit | 653 FITRON |
| Rank | Lieutenant Junior Grade U.S. Navy |
| Date of Death | May 29 1952 |
| Status | Missing In Action |
| Memorialized |
Courts of the Missing
Court
8
Honolulu Memorial |
Air Medal
Combat Action Ribbon (Navy)
Distinguished Flying Cross
Korean Service Medal
National Defense Service Medal
Purple Heart
Republic of Korea Presidential Unit Citation
Republic of Korea War Service Medal
United Nations Service Medal
For his leadership and valor, Lieutenant Junior Grade Gardner was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross, the Air Medal with Gold Star, the Purple Heart, 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.
Notes
Lieutenant Junior Grade Gardner was the pilot of a F4U-4 Corsair fighter with Fighter Squadron 653 aboard the aircraft carrier USS VALLEY FORGE (CV-45). On May 29, 1952, during takeoff on a combat mission, his aircraft crashed into the sea. His remains were not recovered. His name is inscribed on the Courts of the Missing at the Honolulu Memorial.