The President of the United States of America takes pleasure in presenting the Distinguished Flying Cross to Captain Fred J. Meier, United States Marine Corps, for heroism and extraordinary achievement in aerial flight while serving as pilot with Marine Fighter /Attack Squadron ONE HUNDRED FIFTEEN, Marine Aircraft Group Thirteen, First Marine Aircraft Wing in connection with combat operations against the enemy in the Republic of Vietnam. On 22 April 1970, Captain Meier launched from the Chu Lai Air Base as Section Leader of a flight of two Phantom aircraft assigned the mission of providing close air support for the extraction of two crewmen whose aircraft had been shot down by hostile fire in a densely-jungled, mountainous area deep in enemy-controlled territory west of Chu Lai. Arriving over the designated area he was briefed by the Tactical Air Controller (Airborne) on the targets and was informed that the survivors were located in a sector along an enemy supply route which was heavily defended by numerous anti-aircraft weapons. Undaunted by the intensity of the hostile fire directed on his aircraft and the difficulty of maneuvering his Phantom through intermittent rain showers and the cloud cover over the rugged terrain, Captain Meier completely disregarded his own safety as he boldly maneuvered his aircraft on repeated bombing runs against the enemy anti-aircraft emplacements and delivered all of his ordnance upon the target with pinpoint accuracy. As a result of his flight’s devastating attacks and subsequent air strikes by other flights of attack aircraft all of the enemy anti-aircraft fire was silenced and the downed crewmen were safely extracted. Captain Meier’s courage, superior airmanship, and unwavering devotion to duty in the face of great personal danger were instrumental in accomplishing the hazardous mission and were in keeping with the highest traditions of the Marine Corps and of the United States Naval Service.