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 Richard William Arnold, United States Air Force, for extraordinary achievement while participating in aerial flight as an F-100 pilot of the 531st Tactical Fighter Squadron, Bien Hoa Air Base, South Vietnam, in action near Vinh Long, Republic of Vietnam, on 24 August 1968. On that date, Captain Arnold was scrambled from Bien Hoa Air Base to provide close air support to United States Army and Army of the Republic of Vietnam units heavily engaged with a large Viet Cong force. Despite intense, accurate, and visible automatic weapons fire from hostile forces and poor visibility due to darkness, he made numerous low-angle, low altitude passes on hostile gun positions, drawing ground fire away from the friendly ground units and delivered his ordnance with exceptional accuracy. His actions were directly responsible for greatly reducing hostile ground fire in the area, enabling the outnumbered friendly forces to disengage the hostile forces and care for their heavy casualties. The professional competence, aerial skill and devotion to duty displayed by Captain Arnold reflect great credit upon himself and upheld the highest traditions of the United States Air Force.