The President of the United States of America takes pleasure in presenting the Distinguished Flying Cross to Captain [then Commander] Alan Bartlett Shepard, Jr. (NSN: 0-389998), United States Navy, for heroism and extraordinary achievement while participating in aerial flight as an Astronaut with NASA on 5 May 1961. As America’s first man in space, Captain Shepard, aboard FREEDOM &, was in flight fifteen minutes and twenty-two seconds and was weightless only a third of that time. In the light of later American space accomplishments, the flight of FREEDOM 7 was impressive for its benchmark of technical excellence in the new technology of manned space flight and its hallmark of open media reporting. The professional competence, aerial skill and devotion to duty displayed by Captain Shepard reflect great credit upon himself and the United States Naval Service.
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Awards Received
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Navy Distinguished Service Medal
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Navy Distinguished Service Medal
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United States NavyRank:
CaptainAction Date:
January 31 – February 9, 1971
The President of the United States of America takes pleasure in presenting the Navy Distinguished Service Medal to Captain Alan Bartlett Shepard, Jr. (NSN: 0-389998), United States Navy, for exceptionally meritorious and distinguished service in a position of great responsibility to the Government of the United States, as Spacecraft Commander for the APOLLO 14 flight to the Fra-Mauro area of the moon during the period 31 January 1971 to 9 February 1971. Responsible for the on-board control of the spacecraft command module KITTYHAWK and the lunar module ANTARES in the gathering of scientific data involving complex and difficult instrumentation positing and sample gathering, including a hazardous two-mile traverse of the lunar surface, Captain Shepard, by his brilliant performance, contributed essentially to the success of this vital scientific moon mission. As a result of his skillful leadership, professional competence and dedication, the APOLLO 14 mission, with its numerous tasks and vital scientific experiments, was accomplished in an outstanding manner, enabling scientists to determine more precisely the moon’s original formation and further forecast man’s proper role in the exploration of his Universe. By his courageous and determined devotion to duty, Captain Shepard rendered valuable and distinguished service and contributed greatly to the success of the United States Space Program, thereby upholding the highest traditions of the United States Naval Service.