The President of the United States of America takes pride in presenting the Distinguished Flying Cross (Posthumously) to Captain Charles Elbert Finney (MCSN: 0-94692), United States Marine Corps Reserve, for heroism and extraordinary achievement while participating in aerial flight while serving as a Bombardier/Navigator with Marine All Weather Attack Squadron FIVE HUNDRED THIRTY-THREE (VMA(AW)-533), Marine Aircraft Group Twelve, FIRST Marine Aircraft Wing, in connection with operations against the enemy. On the night of 17 March 1969, Captain Finney launched aboard an A-6 Intruder aircraft assigned an armed reconnaissance mission over a heavily defended area of North Vietnam. Arriving over the designated area, he was informed by the Tactical Air Controller (Airborne) that the target was a truck park, well protected by several anti-aircraft gun positions in the vicinity. Skillfully navigating the Intruder to the target area, he ignored the intense hostile fire impacting about his aircraft as he calmly provided bomb release data which enabled the pilot to commence a determined attack, delivering the bombs on target and destroying the majority of the many vehicles in the park. While fearlessly engaged in this dangerous mission, his plane was crippled by enemy fire and crashed on the guns which had disabled it. Captain Finney’s courage, superior aeronautical ability and unwavering devotion to duty at great personal risk contributed significantly to the accomplishment of the mission and were in keeping with the highest traditions of the Marine Corps and of the United States Naval Service.