The President of the United States of America, authorized by Act of Congress, July 2, 1926, takes pleasure in presenting the Distinguished Flying Cross with Combat “V” to Captain Michael Vincent McKelvey, United States Air Force, for heroism while participating in aerial flight as an F-111F Aircraft Commander and flight lead over Qalat Salih airfield, Southeastern Iraq, on 17 January 1991. On that date, Captain McKelvey was tasked to fly as number two in an eight-ship package against SCUD bunkers and hardened aircraft shelters at Qalat Salih. After the lead aircraft aborted prior to takeoff, Captain McKelvey took command of the formation and led them around heavy surface-to-air missile and antiaircraft defenses on a night 400-foot low-level ingress. At the target, he directed the flight to climb to medium altitude to avoid extremely heavy 37 and 57-millimeter antiaircraft fire. He successfully maneuvered his aircraft to allow his weapon systems officer to locate his assigned bunker in the cluttered airfield environment and destroy it with two BGU-24A/B laser-guided bombs. The outstanding heroism and selfless devotion to duty displayed by Captain McKelvey reflect great credit upon himself and upheld the highest traditions of the United States Air Force.