Page 19 - DFCS News Magazine Spring 2013

The President of the United States takes great pleasure in presenting the Distinguished Flying Cross to Lieutenant Com- mander Geoffrey A. L. Blackman for heroism and extraordinary achievement while participating in aerial flight as Pilot and Plane Commander of a Patrol Bomber Plane in Patrol Squadron Twenty-three dur-
ing operations against enemy Japanese forces in the Pacific Ocean area from 4 Septem-
ber 1942 to 12 January 1944. Completing his twentieth mission during this period,
Lieutenant Commander (then Lieutenant, Junior Grade) Blackman participated in daring night and day search flights over an active combat area and carried out a hazardous rescue mission in the vicinity of Munda, New Georgia. By his skilled airmanship, outstanding courage and loyal devotion to duty in the face of hostile anti-aircraft fire, Lieutenant Commander Blackman contributed material- ly to the success of his squadron thereby upholding the highest traditions of the United States Naval
The President of the United States takes great pleasure in presenting the Distinguished Flying Cross to Warrant Of- ficer Ronald M. Black for heroism while participating in aerial flight evidenced by voluntary action above and be- yond the call of duty in the Republic of Vietnam. Warrant Officer Black distinguished himself by exceptionally valorous action on 21 December 1969 while serving as Pilot in the Republic of Vietnam. Upon learning that a helicopter had been shot down, Warrant Officer Black quickly flew to the crash site and
came to a hover over the burning craft to see if he could spot any survi- vors. He tried repeatedly to lower his ship to the wreckage, but the tall trees and ene- my ground fire prevented his descent. Remaining over the area, he continually ex- posed himself to the hostile fire while engaging the enemy and providing support for a ground unit securing it. His outstanding flying ability and devotion to duty are in keep- ing with the highest traditions of the military service and reflect great credit upon him- self, his unit, and the United States Army.
Merle E. Anderson Lupe Arreaga
Harold F. Augspurger Gordon L. Benson Joseph G. Bergstad Donald E. Bone Leonard Brodsky Paul L. Burkhardt Robert Carter
Milton J. Corwin William A. Cottrell William T. Creech Raymond H. Creswell Joseph P. Davis
Alva R. Davis, Jr. James A. Dean Edward J. Dwyer Robert S. Fain Michael Feduniak James A. Formby Paul B. Graves Raymond S. Griffith
Carroll Guilmette Melvin M. Hendrickson Jerry B. Hendrix
Leslie P. Herbert Clarence D. Hughes James C. Keating Bernard T. Keegan Robert B. Kleinman Benton F. Love, Jr. Robert L. Makinney Jack H. McFarland Ronald H. Mikulski
Irl R. Mitchell
John A. Mitchell
Frank N. Moyer
James W. O'Leary Robert C. Olsen Edmund K. Parenti Samuel G. Parsons John A. Rauzon
James R. Reeves Haskell Schwartz
Frederick J. Shawcross Richard A. Shields Charles L. Smith Donald D. Southard Jack H. Stewart
Henry B. Thorsen Herman G. Tillman Harold J. Tucker Duane E. Vandenberg Robert L. Ward, Sr. Rex W. Warden, Jr. Steven L. White Stanley G. Wiesner Boyd D. Williamson Irving R. Wirth Arthur G. Witters
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The Distinguished Flying Cross News