Page 9 - DFCS News Magazine Summer 2013

The President of the United States takes great pleasure in presenting the Distinguished Flying Cross to Lieutenant Com- mander Michael J. Retz for heroism and extraordinary achievement while participating in aerial flight while serving with Helicopter Attack (Light) Squadron Three engaged in armed conflict against Communist North Vietnamese and Viet Cong forc- es in the Republic of Vietnam on 22 December 1968. As leader of a Navy light helicopter fire team, Lieutenant Commander Retz significantly aided in the defense of an Army of the Republic of Vietnam outpost which was under attack from three sides by a ground force of 600 enemy soldiers. Although operating at night in an unfamiliar area, he led his fire team directly tothe
scene of action, determined the direction of the main thrust of the enemy and placed an extremely accurate attack on the advancing unit. His rockets fatally wounded six members of the enemy’s lead element. The accurate and intense fire of the light fire team sufficiently dis- rupted the initial charge which enabled the outpost personnel to re-form their defenses. In the face of extremely heavy automatic weapons fire which included fifty caliber, the fire team scored a direct hit on a B-40 rocket cache resulting in a large secondary explosion, thus deny- ing the enemy valuable ordnance. Twice returning to home base to rearm, Lieutenant Commander Retz continued to press the attack until
the battle area was secure. The estimate for the entire battle indicated enemy losses at seventy-five killed. Lieutenant Commander Retz’s selfless devotion to duty, courage under fire, unfailing leadership and outstanding professional air- manship contributed significantly to the repulsion of the enemy ground force and were instrumental in minimizing the casualties inflicted upon the friendly outpost. Lieutenant Commander Retz’s actions were in keeping with the highest traditions of the United States Naval Service.
The President of the United States takes great pleasure in presenting the Distinguished Flying Cross to Captain Allen G. Myers, III for extraordinary achievement while par- ticipating in aerial flight as a CH-3C helicopter Pilot near Dau Tieng, Republic of Vietnam on 21 February 1966. On that date, while piloting a CH-3C helicopter, Captain Myers was diverted from his scheduled combat support missions to assist the United States Army in support of Operation Mastiff. The ground forces, engaged in hostile action with the oppos-
ing armed force, required the urgent airlift and emplacement of two field artillery batteries to a more
strategic location. Despite adverse weather conditions and repeated exposure to hostile ground fire,
Captain Myers flew 32 combat sorties, airlifting over 75,000 pounds of cargo which included howitzers
and critically needed combat troops; this was accomplished without armor or armament. This achieve-
ment of this airlift support in less than five hours aided immeasurably the success of Operation Mastiff and established a new combat airlift record for a single CH-3C helicopter. The professional competence, aerial skill, and devotion to duty displayed by Captain Myersreflect great credit upon himself and the United States Air Force.
The President of the United States takes great pleasure in presenting the Distinguished Flying Cross to Commander T. Ladson Webb, Jr. for heroism while participating in aerial flight against hostile Iraqi forces as a Naval Flight Officer flying in an A-6E aircraft in Attack Squadron 36 embarked in USS Theodore Roosevelt (CVN 71) steaming in the Arabian Gulf on 22 January 1991. Commander Webb planned, coordinated, and flawlessly led a nineteen plane attack on two Silkworm missile sites located on the Al Faw Peninsula in Southeastern Iraq, in the first Carrier Air Wing Eight-night strike of Operation Desert Storm. Encountering adverse weather conditions and heavy anti-aircraft artillery fire, he delivered his weapons with pin-
point accuracy, severely degrading the enemy’s offensive capability against coalition naval forces operating in the Northern Arabian Gulf. Commander Webb displayed great courage and superb airmanship while demonstrating calm flight leadership in the face of enemy fire. By his uncom- mon valor, bold initiative, and loyal devotion to duty in the face of hazardous flying conditions reflected great credit upon himself and upheld the highest traditions of the Unit- ed States Naval Service.
The President of the United States takes great pleasure in presenting the Distinguished Flying Cross to Lieutenant Commander 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 during operations against enemy Japanese forces in the Pacific Ocean area from 4 September 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 Black- man contributed materially to the success of his squadron thereby upholding the highest traditions of the United States Naval Service.
Page 9 The Distinguished Flying Cross News