The President of the United States of America takes pleasure in presenting a Gold Star in lieu of a Second Award of the Legion of Merit to Commander Ralph Ellis Gaither, Jr. (NSN: 0-686365), United States Navy, for exceptionally meritorious conduct in the performance of outstanding services to the Government of the United States while interned as a Prisoner of War in North Vietnam from October 1965 to February 1973. Under the most adverse of conditions, he resisted all attempts by the North Vietnamese to use him in causes detrimental to the United States, never wavering in his devotion and loyalty to the United States. In an outstanding and tireless fashion he served as an educator to provide diversion and constructive rehabilitative thinking to his fellow prisoners during their long internment. Despite harsh treatment and a lack of material aids, he devoted long hours toward improving their morale and well-being. His extraordinary skill, resourcefulness, and dedication to duty throughout his lengthy confinement reflected great credit upon himself and upheld the highest traditions of the Naval Service and the United States Armed Forces. (Commander Gaither is authorized to wear the Combat “V”.)
Sponsored by:
Awards Received
-
Silver Star
-
Bronze Star Medal
-
Silver Star
-
Legion of Merit
-
Bronze Star Medal
-
Bronze Star Medal
-
Bronze Star Medal
-
Distinguished Flying Cross
-
Prisoner of War Medal
-
Silver Star
Service:
United States NavyRank:
Lieutenant CommanderDivision:
Prisoner of War (North Vietnam)Action Date:
August 1966
The President of the United States of America takes pleasure in presenting the Silver Star to Lieutenant Commander Ralph Ellis Gaither, Jr. (NSN: 0-686365), United States Navy, for conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity while interned as a Prisoner of War in North Vietnam in August 1966. Lieutenant Commander Gaither’s captors, completely ignoring international agreements, subjected him to extreme mental and physical cruelties in an attempt to obtain military information and false confessions for propaganda purposes. Through his resistance to those brutalities, he contributed significantly toward the eventual abandonment of harsh treatment by the North Vietnamese, which was attracting international attention. By his determination, courage, resourcefulness, and devotion, Lieutenant Commander Gaither reflected great credit upon himself and upheld the highest traditions of the Naval Service and the United States Armed Forces.
-
Bronze Star Medal
Service:
United States NavyRank:
Lieutenant CommanderDivision:
Prisoner of War (North Vietnam)Action Date:
January 1967 – December 1969
The President of the United States of America takes pleasure in presenting a Third Gold Star in lieu of a Fourth Award of the Bronze Star Medal with Combat “V” to Lieutenant Commander Ralph Ellis Gaither, Jr. (NSN: 0-686365), United States Navy, for meritorious service as a Prisoner of War in North Vietnam from January 1967 to December 1969. Through his ceaseless efforts, in an atmosphere of enemy harassment, threat of torture and brutal treatment, he established and maintained intracamp communications. At great risk and in spite of further cruelty, he continued to devise many unusual and ingenious methods of communications, resulting in American and Allied prisoners resisting the enemy’s demands and at the same time improving the prisoners’ morale. By his heroic endeavors, exceptional skill, and devotion to duty, he reflected great credit upon himself and upheld the highest traditions of the Naval Service and the United States Armed Forces. [The Combat Distinguishing Device is authorized.]
-
Silver Star
Service:
United States NavyRank:
Lieutenant CommanderDivision:
Prisoner of War (North Vietnam)Action Date:
June 1967
The President of the United States of America takes pleasure in presenting a Gold Star in lieu of a Second Award of the Silver Star to Lieutenant Commander Ralph Ellis Gaither, Jr. (NSN: 0-686365), United States Navy, for conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity while interned as a Prisoner of War in North Vietnam in June 1967. Lieutenant Commander Gaither’s captors, completely ignoring international agreements, subjected him to extreme mental and physical cruelties in an attempt to obtain military information and false confessions for propaganda purposes. Through his resistance to those brutalities, he contributed significantly toward the eventual abandonment of harsh treatment by the North Vietnamese, which was attracting international attention. By his determination, courage, resourcefulness, and devotion, Lieutenant Commander Gaither reflected great credit upon himself and upheld the highest traditions of the Naval Service and the United States Armed Forces.
-
Legion of Merit
Service:
United States NavyRank:
Lieutenant CommanderDivision:
Prisoner of War (North Vietnam)Action Date:
September 1969 – January 1973
The President of the United States of America takes pleasure in presenting the Legion of Merit with Combat “V” to Lieutenant Commander Ralph Ellis Gaither, Jr. (NSN: 0-686365), United States Navy, for exceptionally meritorious conduct in the performance of outstanding services to the Government of the United States while interned as a Prisoner of War in North Vietnam from September 1969 to January 1973. During this period, although under constant surveillance from his captors, he performed duties involving highly classified material in an exemplary and professional manner. Through his zealousness and ingenuity, he generated new ideas and improvised techniques greatly enhancing covert operations. Although in a hostile environment, he never wavered in his devotion and loyalty to the United States and his fellow prisoners. By his inspiring courage, exceptional skill, and resourcefulness, he reflected great credit upon himself and upheld the highest traditions of the United States Naval Service and the United States Armed Forces. (Lieutenant Commander Gaither is authorized to wear the Combat “V”.)
-
Bronze Star Medal
Service:
United States NavyRank:
Lieutenant CommanderDivision:
Prisoner of War (North Vietnam)Action Date:
February 1968
The President of the United States of America takes pleasure in presenting a Second Gold Star in lieu of a Third Award of the Bronze Star Medal with Combat “V” to Lieutenant Commander Ralph Ellis Gaither, Jr. (NSN: 0-686365), United States Navy, for heroic achievement while serving as a Prisoner of War in North Vietnam in February 1968. Under constant pressure from North Vietnamese interrogators and guards, he experienced harassment, intimidation and ruthless treatment in their attempt to gain military information and cooperative participation for propaganda purposes. He heroically resisted their routine cruelties and never wavered in his devotion and loyalty to the United States. These actions served to inspire and improve the morale of his fellow prisoners in the camp. Displaying extraordinary courage, resourcefulness and devotion to duty, he reflected great credit upon himself and upheld the highest traditions of the Naval Service and the United States Armed Forces. [The Combat Distinguishing Device is authorized.]
-
Bronze Star Medal
Service:
United States NavyRank:
Lieutenant CommanderDivision:
Prisoner of War (North Vietnam)Action Date:
October 1967
The President of the United States of America takes pleasure in presenting a Gold Star in lieu of a Second Award of the Bronze Star Medal with Combat “V” to Lieutenant Commander Ralph Ellis Gaither, Jr. (NSN: 0-686365), United States Navy, for heroic achievement while serving as a Prisoner of War in North Vietnam in October 1967. Under constant pressure from North Vietnamese interrogators and guards, he experienced harassment, intimidation and ruthless treatment in their attempt to gain military information and cooperative participation for propaganda purposes. He heroically resisted their routine cruelties and never wavered in his devotion and loyalty to the United States. These actions served to inspire and improve the morale of his fellow prisoners in the camp. Displaying extraordinary courage, resourcefulness and devotion to duty, he reflected great credit upon himself and upheld the highest traditions of the Naval Service and the United States Armed Forces. [The Combat Distinguishing Device is authorized.]
-
Bronze Star Medal
Service:
United States NavyRank:
Lieutenant CommanderDivision:
Prisoner of War (North Vietnam)Action Date:
January 1966
The President of the United States of America takes pleasure in presenting the Bronze Star Medal with Combat “V” to Lieutenant Commander Ralph Ellis Gaither, Jr. (NSN: 0-686365), United States Navy, for heroic achievement while serving as a Prisoner of War in North Vietnam in January 1966. Under constant pressure from North Vietnamese interrogators and guards, he experienced harassment, intimidation and ruthless treatment in their attempt to gain military information and cooperative participation for propaganda purposes. He heroically resisted their routine cruelties and never wavered in his devotion and loyalty to the United States. These actions served to inspire and improve the morale of his fellow prisoners in the camp. Displaying extraordinary courage, resourcefulness and devotion to duty, he reflected great credit upon himself and upheld the highest traditions of the Naval Service and the United States Armed Forces. [The Combat Distinguishing Device is authorized.]
-
Distinguished Flying Cross
Service:
United States NavyRank:
Lieutenant Commander [then Ensign]Batallion:
Fighter Squadron 84 (VA-84)Division:
U.S.S. Independence (CVA-62)Action Date:
October 17, 1965
The President of the United States of America takes pleasure in presenting the Distinguished Flying Cross to Lieutenant Commander [then Ensign] Ralph Ellis Gaither, Jr. (NSN: 0-686365), United States Navy, for heroism and extraordinary achievement while participating in aerial flight on 17 October 1965, as a crew member flying in jet aircraft, serving with Fighter Squadron EIGHTY-FOUR (VF-84), embarked in U.S.S. INDEPENDENCE (CVA-62), during aerial combat operations in Southeast Asia. Lieutenant Commander Gaither participated in an armed strike against the Thai Nguyen Highway Bridge in North Vietnam, a heavily defended area forty miles north of Hanoi. As a member of a four-plane flight assigned to flak suppression, Lieutenant Commander Gaither penetrated the enemy coast northeast of Haiphong and led the strike group to the target. As the flight approached a railroad crossing near Lang Son, intense enemy anti-aircraft artillery fire was encountered which destroyed one aircraft in the flight and severely damaged another. After initiating evasive maneuvers, Lieutenant Commander Gaither attacked one of the flak sites, scoring a direct hit and silencing the emplacement. His courageous and selfless actions in the face of intense enemy opposition contributed directly to the success of the mission and were in keeping with the highest traditions of the United States Naval Service.
-
Prisoner of War Medal
Service:
United States NavyRank:
Lieutenant CommanderDivision:
Prisoner of War (North Vietnam)Action Date:
October 17, 1965 – February 12, 1973
Lieutenant Commander Ralph Ellis Gaither, Jr. (NSN: 0-686365), United States Navy, was held as a Prisoner of War in North Vietnam from October 17, 1965 until his release on February 12, 1973.