The President of the United States of America takes pleasure in presenting the Distinguished Flying Cross to Commander Wesley Lee McDonald, United States Navy, for extraordinary achievement while participating in aerial flight as Commanding Officer of Attack Squadron FIFTY-SIX (VA-56), embarked in U.S.S. TICONDEROGA (CVA-14), in support of U.S.S. MADDOX (DD-731) on the night of 4 August 1964 in the Gulf of Tonkin and for his part in the air strikes against North Vietnamese torpedo boats, their bases and supporting facilities on the afternoon of 5 August 1964. While flying in support of MADDOX, Commander McDonald led his section of aircraft through extremely adverse weather conditions and total darkness to the scene of the action and made two attacks on unidentified hostile torpedo boats. With minimum rest, he planned the light jet attack tactics for the retaliatory strikes against North Vietnam. Then, as flight leader, he led six A-4E light jets in support of the Vinh oil storage strike. Despite intense hostile anti-aircraft fire, he aggressively attacked anti-aircraft batteries, inflicting maximum damage with rocket and 20-mm. fire. He then led his wingman in an attack on a North Vietnamese patrol boat, heavily damaging the craft and causing it to be beached.

The President of the United States of America takes pleasure in presenting a Gold Star in lieu of a Second Award of the Distinguished Flying Cross to Commander Wesley Lee McDonald, United States Navy, for extraordinary achievement while participating in aerial flight as Commander Attack Carrier Air Wing FIFTEEN, embarked in U.S.S. CORAL SEA (CVA-43), on 5 October 1965. As the strike leader in a major joint air wing strike against the Kep Highway Bridge in North Vietnam, Commander McDonald planned his air wing’s attack, then contributed to the combined pre-strike coordination and planning required against this target. In the face of heavy anti-aircraft fire and the presence of surface-to-air missile threats, he led the strike aircraft in the dive-bombing run, marking the target and achieving significant damage to the bridge. Remaining in the immediate target area, he directed the attack and obtained post strike bomb damage assessment. He then led the remaining strike aircraft from the target at tree-top level to avoid enemy air and missile opposition.