The President of the United States of America, authorized by Executive Order 11046, 24 August 1962, takes pleasure in presenting a Bronze Oak Leaf Cluster in lieu of a Second Award of the Bronze Star Medal with Combat “V” to Major John Henry Wendell, Jr., United States Air Force, for heroic actions against an enemy armed force while serving as a Prisoner of War in North Vietnam from June 1968 to August 1968. The North Vietnamese interrogators and guards kept constant pressure on this officer through harassment, intimidation, and cruelties from which they hoped to gain information and cooperative participation in their propaganda exercises. Major Wendell heroically resisted this treatment in a manner which served as an inspiration to others in the camp and reflected great credit upon himself and the United States Air Force.

The President of the United States of America, authorized by Executive Order 11046, 24 August 1962, takes pleasure in presenting the Bronze Star Medal with Combat “V” to Major John Henry Wendell, Jr., United States Air Force, for heroic achievement as a Prisoner of War while engaged in operations against an opposing armed force in North Vietnam from April 1968 to July 1970. In an atmosphere of enemy harassment and brutal treatment, he continued to establish and maintain communications through unusual and ingenious methods, which resulted in American and Allied prisoners presenting a posture of increased resistance to the enemy’s wishes, and, at the same time, improving prisoner morale. By his heroic endeavors and devotion to duty under adverse conditions of his environment, he reflected great credit upon himself and the United States Air Force.