Kenneth A . Walsh Kenneth Ambrose Walsh ( November 24 , 1916 - July 30 , 1998 ) was the fourth ranking United States Marine Corps fighter ace in World War II with a record of 21 enemy planes destroyed . Biography . Born and raised in Brooklyn , New York , Walsh enlisted in the Marines on December 15 , 1933 , at age 17 , becoming a mechanic and radioman . Upon receiving his Wings of Gold in April 1937 he was still a private , but was promoted to corporal soon thereafter . He flew scout - observation aircraft over the next four years before assignment to VMF - 121 in North Carolina . At the time of the attack on Pearl Harbor , he was a technical sergeant , becoming a warrant officer in May 1942 , and was commissioned a year later . He was also one of a handful of Marine aviators qualified as an aircraft carrier landing signal officer . Assigned to VMF - 124 , Walsh was one of the most experienced pilots in the Corps ' first Vought F4U Corsair squadron . The unit arrived at Guadalcanal in February 1943 and was immediately committed to combat . He claimed his first three Japanese planes on April 1 , 1943 and two more in his next combat , May 13 , 1943 , becoming the first Corsair ace . Walsh brought his score to 20 by the end of August 1943 , including two combats over the Solomon Islands that earned him the Medal of Honor . He was awarded the Medal of Honor by President Franklin D . Roosevelt on February 8 , 1944 . He returned to combat in 1945 , flying with VMF - 222 , scoring his last kill at Okinawa on June 22 , 1945 . Walsh remained in the Marine Corps for a full career , flying transports in Korea and retiring as a lieutenant colonel in February 1962 . He was a frequent participant in history seminars and often assisted researchers and historians interested in the Pacific War . He died at age 81 from a heart attack . He left a widow , Beaulah and a son . LtCol Walsh was buried at Arlington National Cemetery . Medal of Honor citation . Rank and organization : First Lieutenant , pilot in Marine Fighting Squadron 124 , U . S . Marine Corps . Place and date : Solomon Islands area , 15 and 30 August 1943 . Entered service at : New York . Born : 24 November 1916 , Brooklyn , N . Y . Other Navy awards : 4 Distinguished Flying Crosses with 5 Gold Stars . Citation : For extraordinary heroism and intrepidity above and beyond the call of duty as a pilot in Marine Fighting Squadron 124 in aerial combat against enemy Japanese forces in the Solomon Islands area . Determined to thwart the enemy ' s attempt to bomb Allied ground forces and shipping at Vella Lavella on 15 August 1943 , 1st Lt . Walsh repeatedly dived his plane into an enemy formation outnumbering his own division 6 to 1 and , although his plane was hit numerous times , shot down 2 Japanese dive bombers and 1 fighter . After developing engine trouble on 30 August during a vital escort mission , 1st Lt . Walsh landed his mechanically disabled plane at Munda , quickly replaced it with another , and proceeded to rejoin his flight over Kahili . Separated from his escort group when he encountered approximately 50 Japanese Zeros , he unhesitatingly attacked , striking with relentless fury in his lone battle against a powerful force . He destroyed 4 hostile fighters before cannon shellfire forced him to make a dead - stick landing off Vella Lavella where he was later picked up . His valiant leadership and his daring skill as a flier served as a source of confidence and inspiration to his fellow pilots and reflect the highest credit upon the U . S . Naval Service .