The President of the United States of America, authorized by Act of Congress, July 2, 1926, takes pleasure in presenting the Distinguished Flying Cross with Combat “V” to Captain James C. Harding (AFSN: 0-57979), United States Air Force, for heroism while participating in aerial flight as a Forward Air Controller attached to the 173d Airborne Brigade, Pleiku, South Vietnam on 19 August 1965. On this date, while Captain Harding was flying escort for an armored column, he spotted hostile forces preparing an ambush ahead of the lead vehicle. Despite intense small arms fire and with complete disregard for his personal safety, Captain Harding dove his unarmed aircraft at the hostile positions, pinpointing their locations for the guns of the armored vehicles and causing the hostile forces to become disorganized and break for cover. The outstanding heroism and selfless devotion to duty displayed by Captain Harding reflect great credit upon himself and the United States Air Force.

The President of the United States of America, authorized by Act of Congress, July 2, 1926, takes pleasure in presenting a Silver Oak Leaf Cluster in lieu of a Sixth Award of the Distinguished Flying Cross to Major James C. Harding (AFSN: 0-57979), United States Air Force, for extraordinary achievement while participating in aerial flight as an A-1 Tactical Fighter Pilot in Southeast Asia on 31 March 1972. On that date, Major Harding participated in a search and rescue mission for the crew of an Air Force gunship that had been downed by hostile fire in southern Laos. Utilizing his considerable experience in missions of this type, Major Harding coordinated the efforts of the various forces involved in the mission and at the same time provided cover for the vulnerable helicopter as it hovered over each survivor and his actions were instrumental in the safe and successful recovery of the entire crew. The professional competence, aerial skill, and devotion to duty displayed by Major Harding reflect great credit upon himself and the United States Air Force.

The President of the United States of America, authorized by Act of Congress, July 2, 1926, takes pleasure in presenting a Bronze Oak Leaf Cluster in addition to a previously awarded Silver Oak Leaf Cluster in lieu of a Seventh Award of the Distinguished Flying Cross to Major James C. Harding (AFSN: 0-57979), United States Air Force, for extraordinary achievement while participating in aerial flight as an A-1 Tactical Fighter Pilot in Southeast Asia on 23 April 1972. On that date, Major Harding flew a strike mission in support of friendly forces who were desperately attempting to defend the besieged city of An Loc in the Republic of South Vietnam. Despite an unprecedented amount of extremely accurate anti-aircraft artillery fire directed at his slow moving Skyraider, Major Harding remained on target well past sunset making low level passes on the unfriendly positions delivering his ordnance with pinpoint accuracy, first against hostile troops and armor, then against active anti-aircraft positions, thus greatly improving the survivability of lumbering transport aircraft dropping sorely needed supplies to the beleaguered allies. The professional competence, aerial skill, and devotion to duty displayed by Major Harding reflect great credit upon himself and the United States Air Force.

The President of the United States of America, authorized by Act of Congress, July 2, 1926, takes pleasure in presenting a Second Bronze Oak Leaf Cluster in addition to a previously awarded Silver Oak Leaf Cluster in lieu of an Eighth Award of the Distinguished Flying Cross with Combat “V” to Major James C. Harding (AFSN: 0-57979), United States Air Force, for heroism while participating in aerial flight as an A-1 pilot in Southeast Asia on 27 June 1972. On that date, Major Harding was the on-scene commander of a search and rescue effort to retrieve an injured American crewmember downed in a heavily defended area 75 miles southwest of Hanoi, North Vietnam. In the face of extremely adverse weather, a critical shortage of fuel and withering hostile ground fire, Major Harding made unrelenting low altitude ordnance deliveries in his A-1 Skyraider to protect the vulnerable rescue helicopters, effecting the save recovery of the crewman. The outstanding heroism and selfless devotion to duty displayed by Major Harding reflect great credit upon himself and the United States Air Force.

The President of the United States of America, authorized by Act of Congress, July 2, 1926, takes pleasure in presenting a Third Bronze Oak Leaf Cluster in lieu of a Fourth Award of the Distinguished Flying Cross with Combat “V” to Major James C. Harding (AFSN: 0-57979), United States Air Force, for heroism while participating in aerial flight as an A-1 Tactical Fighter Pilot in Southeast Asia on 23 November 1971. On that date, Major Harding was flying in the lead aircraft on a helicopter escort mission that was attempting to infiltrate a large friendly force deep in hostile territory. With complete disregard for his own safety in the face of intense ground fire, Major Harding assisted in attacking the hostile positions even after the aircraft had suffered considerable damage thereby allowing the mission to be carried to its successful completion. The outstanding heroism and selfless devotion to duty displayed by Major Harding reflect great credit upon himself and the United States Air Force.

The President of the United States of America, authorized by Act of Congress, July 2, 1926, takes pleasure in presenting a Second Bronze Oak Leaf Cluster in lieu of a Third Award of the Distinguished Flying Cross to Major James C. Harding (AFSN: 0-57979), United States Air Force, for extraordinary achievement while participating in aerial flight as a Forward Air Controller in Southeast Asia on 10 July 1967. On that date, Major Harding, airborne for more than four hours, dealt a devastating blow to attacking hostile forces near Con Thien, Republic of Vietnam. Subjected to hostile anti-aircraft fire, automatic weapons, and unfriendly artillery, Major Harding located the threat areas, and calmly directed tactical airpower in a series of sorties as it ultimately neutralized the hostile forces. The professional competence, aerial skill, and devotion to duty displayed by Major Harding reflect great credit upon himself and the United States Air Force.