Navy Federal Credit Union

Jerry Hoblit graduated from the U.S. Military Academy at West Point, Class of 1958. During the Vietnam War he was awarded three Silver Stars. Decades later Colonel Tom Wilson (USAF, Retired), who had been Hoblit’s “back seater” and earned the Silver Star for an April 23, 1967 mission learned that his Pilot had been recommended for the Air Force Cross but never received it. Through his hard work and a Congressional action, the Air Force approved the award on May 23, 2003, three-and-a-half decades after his heroic actions. He retired as a U.S. Air Force Colonel on June 30, 1982.

Awards Received

  • Silver Star

    Service:

    United States Air Force

    Rank:

    Captain

    Batallion:

    357th Tactical Fighter Squadron

    Regiment:

    355th Tactical Fighter Wing

    Division:

    Tuy Hoa Air Base, Vietnam

    Action Date:

    March 11, 1967

    Headquarters, 7th Air Force, Special Order G-966 (July 6, 1967)

    The President of the United States of America, authorized by Act of Congress July 9, 1918 (amended by an act of July 25, 1963), takes pleasure in presenting a Bronze Oak Leaf Cluster in lieu of a Second Award of the Silver Star to Captain Jerry Noel Hoblit (AFSN: 0-49879), United States Air Force, for gallantry in connection with military operations against an opposing armed force while serving as an F-105F Pilot of the 357th Tactical Fighter Squadron, 355th Tactical Fighter Wing, SEVENTH Air Force, Tuy Hoa Air Base, Vietnam, in action near Thai Ngyen, North Vietnam, on 11 March 1967. On that date, Captain Hoblit led an element of fighter-bomber aircraft in support of the Thai Ngyen Iron and Steel Plant bombing raid and discovered an active surface-to-air missile site which was a definite threat to the incoming strike forces. With complete disregard for his personal safety, Captain Hoblit led his element through fierce anti-aircraft fire and destroyed the site, leaving it in utter ruin. This attack was accomplished against a most intense defensive barrage of anti-aircraft artillery and surface-to-air missiles. By his gallantry and devotion to duty, Captain Hoblit has reflected great credit upon himself and the United States Air Force.

  • Silver Star

    Service:

    United States Air Force

    Rank:

    Captain

    Batallion:

    357th Tactical Fighter Squadron

    Regiment:

    355th Tactical Fighter Wing

    Division:

    Tuy Hoa Air Base, Vietnam

    Action Date:

    January 17, 1967

    Headquarters, 7th Air Force, Special Order G-801 (June 6, 1967)

    The President of the United States of America, authorized by Act of Congress July 9, 1918 (amended by an act of July 25, 1963), takes pleasure in presenting the Silver Star to Captain Jerry Noel Hoblit (AFSN: 0-49879), United States Air Force, for gallantry in connection with military operations against an opposing armed force while serving as an F-105F Pilot of the 357th Tactical Fighter Squadron, 355th Tactical Fighter Wing, SEVENTH Air Force, Tuy Hoa Air Base, Vietnam, in action near Hanoi, North Vietnam, on 17 January 1967. On that date, Captain Hoblit led a flight of four fighter-bomber aircraft and purposely set himself up as a decoy for hostile surface-to-air missiles which would have been fired at a friendly strike force. His display of fine flying skills used to out-maneuver the missiles fired at his flight was outstanding. Captain Hoblit went on to destroy one SAM site and to suppress two other SAM sites during the period of the bombing attack. Captain Hoblit’s courageous and daring tactics were instrumental in bringing home the strike force that day without the loss of a single aircraft. By his gallantry and devotion to duty, Captain Hoblit has reflected great credit upon himself and the United States Air Force.

  • Silver Star

    Service:

    United States Air Force

    Rank:

    Captain

    Batallion:

    357th Tactical Fighter Squadron

    Regiment:

    355th Tactical Fighter Wing

    Division:

    Tuy Hoa Air Base, Vietnam

    Action Date:

    April 18, 1967

    Headquarters, Pacific Air Forces, Special Order G-216 (November 24, 1967)

    The President of the United States of America, authorized by Act of Congress July 9, 1918 (amended by an act of July 25, 1963), takes pleasure in presenting a Second Bronze Oak Leaf Cluster in lieu of a Third Award of the Silver Star to Captain Jerry Noel Hoblit (AFSN: 0-49879), United States Air Force, for gallantry in connection with military operations against an opposing armed force while serving as an F-105F Pilot of the 357th Tactical Fighter Squadron, 355th Tactical Fighter Wing, Tuy Hoa Air Base, Vietnam, in action near Thai Ngyen, North Vietnam, on 18 April 1967. On that date, Captain Hoblit repeatedly and courageously exposed himself to surface-to-air missile attacks in order to insure the success of an important strike mission and preclude the loss of friendly aircraft. With complete and selfless disregard for his personal safety, Captain Hoblit unhesitatingly continued his aggressive attacks against hostile missile facilities, even though his aircraft had been damaged by anti-aircraft fire and was critically low on fuel. By his gallantry and devotion to duty, Captain Hoblit has reflected great credit upon himself and the United States Air Force.

  • Air Force Cross

    Service:

    United States Air Force

    Rank:

    Captain

    Batallion:

    357th Tactical Fighter Squadron

    Regiment:

    355th Tactical Fighter Wing

    Division:

    Tuy Hoa Air Base, Vietnam

    Action Date:

    April 23, 1967

    The President of the United States of America, authorized by Title 10, Section 8742, United States Code, takes pleasure in presenting the Air Force Cross to Captain Jerry Noel Hoblit (AFSN: 0-49879), United States Air Force, for extraordinary heroism in military operations against an opposing armed force as an F-105F Pilot of the 357th Tactical Fighter Squadron, 355th Tactical Fighter Wing, Tuy Hoa Air Base, Vietnam, in aerial action near Thai Nguyen, North Vietnam on 23 April 1967. On that date Captain Hoblit and his Electronic Warfare Officer flew the F-105F Wile Weasel in support of a strike force of fighter-bombers targeted upon the Thai Nguyen steel mill in North Vietnam. Once the flight separated, Captain Hoblit set his element up as a decoy to draw fire from a surface-to-air missile site. After outmaneuvering three missiles, Captain Hoblit led his wingman into a dive bomb to destroy this complex. As he fired his anti-radiation missiles at a second site, yet another site launched a missile and severely damaged the Wild Weasel leader’s aircraft. Captain Hoblit diverted attention from the wounded aircraft, narrowly evading missiles fired at him. Despite having expended his bombs and missiles, Captain Hoblit pressed the attack, leading his wingman into a high angle strafe pass in the face of fierce automatic weapons fire; he continued the attack until assured his team leader had safely egressed the area. Captain Hoblit remained behind to assist in the successful rescue of an RF-4C Phantom reconnaissance jet aircrew that had been shot down earlier. When Captain Hoblit finally landed at a forward air base, maintenance personnel confirmed high explosive incendiary rounds of ground fire had damaged his aircraft. Through his extraordinary heroism, superb airmanship, and aggressiveness in the face of the enemy, Captain Hoblit reflected the highest credit upon himself and the United States Air Force.

  • Distinguished Flying Cross

    Service:

    United States Air Force

    Rank:

    Captain

    Batallion:

    357th Tactical Fighter Squadron

    Regiment:

    355th Tactical Fighter Wing

    Division:

    Tuy Hoa Air Base, Vietnam

    Action Date:

    January 21, 1967

    Headquarters, 7th Air Force, Special Orders No. G-1216 (November 24, 1967)

    The President of the United States of America, authorized by Act of Congress, July 2, 1926, takes pleasure in presenting a Second Bronze Oak Leaf Cluster in lieu of a Third Award of the Distinguished Flying Cross with Combat “V” to Captain Jerry Noel Hoblit (AFSN: 0-49879), United States Air Force, for heroism while participating in aerial flight as an F-105F pilot near Hanoi, North Vietnam, on 21 January 1967. On that date, Captain Hoblit intentionally and courageously acted as decoy while ten hostile surface-to-air missiles were launched at him. His gallant actions resulted in pre-occupying the unfriendly surface-to-air missile sites to the extent that he became their only target, and this enhanced the success of the bombers’ mission. The result was that there were no losses to the primary strike force during this period of heavy attacks, and the target complex was completely destroyed. The outstanding heroism and selfless devotion to duty displayed by Captain Hoblit reflect great credit upon himself and the United States Air Force.

  • Distinguished Flying Cross

    Service:

    United States Air Force

    Rank:

    Captain

    Batallion:

    357th Tactical Fighter Squadron

    Regiment:

    355th Tactical Fighter Wing

    Division:

    Tuy Hoa Air Base, Vietnam

    Action Date:

    January 18, 1967

    Headquarters, 7th Air Force, Special Orders No. G-1171 (August 9, 1967)

    The President of the United States of America, authorized by Act of Congress, July 2, 1926, takes pleasure in presenting a Bronze Oak Leaf Cluster in lieu of a Second Award of the Distinguished Flying Cross to Captain Jerry Noel Hoblit (AFSN: 0-49879), United States Air Force, for extraordinary achievement while participating in aerial flight as an F-105 Pilot near Viet Tri, North Vietnam on 18 January 1967. On that date, Captain Hoblit led a flight of four F-105 aircraft on a surface-to-air missile suppression mission. In the ensuing action, Captain Hoblit destroyed two missile guidance radars, suppressed two others and destroyed a missile site that was under construction. These outstanding achievements were only possible because of the daring tactics which he conceived under the strain of a missile and flak attack. The professional competence, aerial skill, and devotion to duty displayed by Captain Hoblit reflect great credit upon himself and the United States Air Force.

  • Distinguished Flying Cross

    Service:

    United States Air Force

    Rank:

    Captain

    Batallion:

    357th Tactical Fighter Squadron

    Regiment:

    355th Tactical Fighter Wing

    Division:

    Tuy Hoa Air Base, Vietnam

    Action Date:

    January 13, 1967

    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 Captain Jerry Noel Hoblit (AFSN: 0-49879), United States Air Force, for extraordinary achievement while participating in aerial flight as an F-105F Wild Weasel pilot near Vinh, North Vietnam on 13 January 1967. On that date, Captain Hoblit was flying a combat support mission in a hostile area over North Vietnam. Despite poor weather and heavy anti-aircraft fire, he was able to accurately direct several fighter-bomber attacks against lucrative ground targets he sighted in the area. He remained over the hostile area for almost two hours by twice cycling out to an aerial refueling point then re-entering the area. His efforts resulted in outstanding mission accomplishment. His aggressive engagement was directly responsible for the destruction of numerous trucks, several large river barges, and one gun laying radar. The professional competence, aerial skill, and devotion to duty displayed by Captain Hoblit reflect great credit upon himself and the United States Air Force.

  • Legion of Merit

    Service:

    United States Air Force

    Rank:

    Colonel

    Action Date:

    August 31, 1980 – June 30, 1982

    The President of the United States of America, authorized by Act of Congress, 20 July 1942, takes pleasure in presenting the Legion of Merit to Colonel Jerry Noel Hoblit (AFSN: 0-49879), United States Air Force, for exceptionally meritorious conduct in the performance of outstanding services to the Government of the United States as Vice Commander, 27th Tactical Fighter Wing, Cannon Air Force Base, New Mexico, from 31 August 1980 to 30 June 1982. Colonel Hoblit’s outstanding leadership, exemplary foresight, and ceaseless efforts resulted in significant contributions to the success and effectiveness of the 27th Tactical Fighter Wing. Under his direct leadership, the 27th Tactical Fighter Wing demonstrated its ability to accomplish mission requirements in a truly professional manner anywhere in the world with outstanding results. The singularly distinctive accomplishments of Colonel Hoblit culminate a distinguished career in the service of his country and reflect great credit upon himself and the United States Air Force.