Navy Federal Credit Union

Awards Received

  • Distinguished Flying Cross

    Service:

    United States Army

    Rank:

    First Lieutenant (Field Artillery)

    Action Date:

    June 13, 1953

    Department of the Army, General Orders No. 1 (January 12, 1961)

    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 (Field Artillery) Neil T. Dotts, United States Army, for heroism while participating in aerial flight on 13 June 1953. While flying an L-19 aircraft over Korea, and directing artillery fire on hostile targets, Lieutenant Dotts encountered a low partial cloud coverage and flew behind enemy lines, well within the range of enemy small arms fire and at an altitude of 2,000 feet below that of normal flight. In the face of a determined drive by the enemy against United Nations ground forces, and continuous enemy mortar activity, he elected to continue the mission, despite enemy small arms, automatic weapons and anti-aircraft fire directed at his aircraft. Disregarding his own personal safety, Lieutenant Dotts remained in the area for a period of approximately one hour and thirty minutes, and continued to adjust fire on enemy targets until seriously wounded in the left leg by enemy fire. Realizing that he might lose consciousness at any moment, he attempted to return to friendly lines rather than parachute into enemy territory and abandon the aircraft at a total loss. After applying an emergency bandage on his injured leg to prevent excessive loss of blood, his constrained and determined efforts enabled him to maneuver the aircraft to a successful landing at a forward emergency airstrip. Although the aircraft sustained damages during the landing roll because of his inability to maintain directional control with his wounded leg, neither he nor the accompanying observer was further injured and the aircraft was later repaired and returned to service. The selfless and heroic actions displayed by Lieutenant Dotts under critical battle conditions reflect distinct credit upon himself, and are in keeping with the highest traditions of the military service.