Headquarters, Pacific Air Forces, Special Order G-231 (December 14, 1965)
The President of the United States of America, authorized by Act of Congress, July 2, 1926, takes pleasure in presenting the Distinguished Flying Cross to First Lieutenant Herbert Benjamin Ringsdorf, United States Air Force, for extraordinary achievement while participating in aerial flight as an F-4 Phantom II Pilot with the 47th Tactical Fighter Squadron, over Southeast Asia on 23 August 1965. On that date, Lieutenant Ringsdorf participated in the destruction of a target of great importance to an opposing armed force. The target, located deep in hostile territory was within range of a suspected surface-to-air missile (SAM) site and was heavily defended by anti-aircraft artillery and automatic weapons. Lieutenant Ringsdorf, with disregard for his personal safety, deliberately approached the target from an altitude and heading which insured optimum weapons delivery on target but at the same time gave the hostile forces the opportunity to employ their defense forces to best advantage. Despite the hazards involved, the ordnance was delivered on target with such accuracy that subsequent bomb damage assessment photography confirmed that it had been completely destroyed. As a result of this mission, the capability of the opposing force to wage an armed conflict was significantly impaired. The professional competence, aerial skill and devotion to duty displayed by Lieutenant Ringsdorf reflect great credit upon himself and the United States Air Force.