The President of the United States of America takes pleasure in presenting the Distinguished Flying Cross to Lieutenant Commander [then Lieutenant, Junior Grade] Wendell Reed Alcorn (NSN: 0-5965359), United States Navy, for heroism and extraordinary achievement while participating in aerial flight as Pilot of a jet aircraft in Attack Squadron THIRTY-SIX (VA-36), embarked in U.S.S. ENTERPRISE (CVAN-65), during an attack on the North Vietnamese power plant at Hung Ri, on 22 December 1965. Despite extremely heavy enemy anti-aircraft and automatic weapons fire, Lieutenant Commander Alcorn piloted his aircraft into the target area, which was completely obscured by smoke and dust from the bombs of the previous flight, and executed a successful high-speed, low-altitude attack on the target. Lieutenant Commander Alcorn’s aircraft was hit by ground fire and he was last seen ejecting from his crippled plane. His skill, courage, and determination were in keeping with the highest traditions of the United States Naval Service.
Sponsored by:
Awards Received
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Silver Star
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Legion of Merit
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Legion of Merit
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Bronze Star Medal
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Legion of Merit
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Bronze Star Medal
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Prisoner of War Medal
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Bronze Star Medal
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Silver Star
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Legion of Merit
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Silver Star
Service:
United States NavyRank:
Lieutenant CommanderDivision:
Prisoner of War (North Vietnam)Action Date:
October 22 – 31, 1966
The President of the United States of America takes pleasure in presenting a Gold Star in lieu of a Second Award of the Silver Star to Lieutenant Commander Wendell Reed Alcorn (NSN: 0-5965359), United States Navy, for conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity while interned as a Prisoner of War in North Vietnam. During the period 22 October to 31 October 1966, Lieutenant Commander Alcorn’s captors, completely ignoring international agreements, subjected him to extremely cruelty in an attempt to obtain military information and false confessions for propaganda purposes. By his heroic stand against his captors, he effectively resisted the efforts of the North Vietnamese in spite of the hostile environment; eventually compelling them to abandon their employment of harsh treatment. Using determination, courage, resourcefulness, and devotion to duty, he reflected great credit upon himself and upheld the highest traditions of the Naval Service and the United States Armed Forces.
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Legion of Merit
Service:
United States NavyRank:
Lieutenant CommanderDivision:
Prisoner of War (North Vietnam)Action Date:
December 1965 – February 1973
The President of the United States of America takes pleasure in presenting the Legion of Merit with Combat “V” to Lieutenant Commander Wendell Reed Alcorn (NSN: 0-5965359), United States Navy, for exceptionally meritorious conduct in the performance of outstanding services to the Government of the United States as a Prisoner of War in North Vietnam from December 1965 to February 1973. Under the most adverse conditions, he resisted all attempts by the North Vietnamese to use him in causes detrimental to the United States, never wavering in his devotion and loyalty to the United States. In an outstanding and tireless fashion he serves as both an educator and an entertainer to provide diversion and constructive rehabilitative thinking to his fellow prisoners during their long internment. Despite harsh treatment and a lack of material aids, he devoted long hours toward improving their morale and well-being. His extraordinary skill, resourcefulness, and dedication to duty throughout his lengthy confinement reflected great credit upon himself and upheld the highest traditions of the Naval Service and the United States Armed Forces. (Lieutenant Commander Alcorn is authorized to wear the Combat “V”.)
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Legion of Merit
The President of the United States of America takes pleasure in presenting a Gold Star in lieu of a Second Award of the Legion of Merit to Captain Wendell Reed Alcorn (NSN: 0-5965359), United States Navy, for exceptionally meritorious conduct in the performance of outstanding services to the Government of the United States as Chief of Staff, Chief of Naval Air Training, Corpus Christi, Texas, from May 1985 to July 1987. Displaying outstanding leadership, superior managerial expertise, and extraordinary personal initiative, Captain Alcorn competently and proficiently coordinated the efforts of this large staff and 38 other activities of the Naval Air Training Command. He directed an ongoing progressively expanding series of complex management actions which ensured maximum productivity and optimum results with limited personnel and scarce financial resources. Under his superb direction, the Naval Air Training Command consistently achieved desired pilot and Naval Flight Officer training rates. Captain Alcorn was instrumental in upgrading Strike and Maritime curriculums to meet changing fleet requirements. In addition, he astutely oversaw implementation of new personnel accession programs designed to meet current and expanding future needs of Naval aviation. Captain Alcorn’s superlative professionalism, capable leadership, and inspiring devotion to duty reflected great credit upon himself and were in keeping with the highest traditions of the United States Naval Service.
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Bronze Star Medal
Service:
United States NavyRank:
Lieutenant CommanderDivision:
Prisoner of War (North Vietnam)Action Date:
February 1966
The President of the United States of America takes pleasure in presenting the Bronze Star Medal with Combat “V” to Lieutenant Commander Wendell Reed Alcorn (NSN: 0-5965359), United States Navy, for heroic achievement while serving as a Prisoner of War in North Vietnam in February 1966. Under constant pressure from North Vietnamese interrogators and guards, he experienced harassment, intimidation and ruthless treatment in their attempt to gain military information and cooperative participation for propaganda purposes. He heroically resisted their routine cruelties and never wavered in his devotion and loyalty to the United States. These actions served to inspire and improve the morale of his fellow prisoners in the camp. Displaying extraordinary courage, resourcefulness and devotion to duty, he reflected great credit upon himself and upheld the highest traditions of the Naval Service and the United States Armed Forces. [The Combat Distinguishing Device is authorized.]
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Legion of Merit
The President of the United States of America takes pleasure in presenting a Third Gold Star in lieu of a Fourth Award of the Legion of Merit to Captain Wendell Reed Alcorn (NSN: 0-5965359), United States Navy, for exceptionally meritorious conduct in the performance of outstanding services to the Government of the United States as Dean of Students, Naval War College, Newport, Rhode Island from June 1990 to June 1992. Demonstrating exceptional leadership, outstanding managerial abilities, and superb interpersonal skills, Captain Alcorn made a profound and lasting contribution to the education of the Nation’s future leaders. His accomplishments as a counselor and personal advocate for Naval War College Students from all branches of military service and federal civilian agencies ensured their exuberant high morale and significantly facilitated maximum student concentration on the rigors of the curriculum. Captain Alcorn’s interaction with the personnel distribution officers ensured students were of the highest quality and that graduates received career-enhancing assignments. His superb personal initiative, dedication, and foresight resulted in significant improvements to the quality of support services provided to all students, faculty, and staff. Captain Alcorn’s sterling leadership, invaluable contributions and inspiring devotion to duty reflected great credit upon himself and were in keeping with the highest traditions of the United States Naval Service.
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Bronze Star Medal
Service:
United States NavyRank:
Lieutenant CommanderDivision:
Prisoner of War (North Vietnam)Action Date:
August 1969
The President of the United States of America takes pleasure in presenting a Gold Star in lieu of a Second Award of the Bronze Star Medal with Combat “V” to Lieutenant Commander Wendell Reed Alcorn (NSN: 0-5965359), United States Navy, for heroic achievement while serving as a Prisoner of War in North Vietnam in August 1969. Under constant pressure from North Vietnamese interrogators and guards, he experienced harassment, intimidation and ruthless treatment in their attempt to gain military information and cooperative participation for propaganda purposes. He heroically resisted their routine cruelties and never wavered in his devotion and loyalty to the United States. These actions served to inspire and improve the morale of his fellow prisoners in the camp. Displaying extraordinary courage, resourcefulness and devotion to duty, he reflected great credit upon himself and upheld the highest traditions of the Naval Service and the United States Armed Forces. [The Combat Distinguishing Device is authorized.]
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Prisoner of War Medal
Service:
United States NavyRank:
Lieutenant CommanderDivision:
Prisoner of War (North Vietnam)Action Date:
December 22, 1965 – February 12, 1973
Lieutenant Commander Wendell Reed Alcorn (NSN: 0-5965359), United States Navy, was held as a Prisoner of War in North Vietnam from December 22, 1965 until his release on February 12, 1973.
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Bronze Star Medal
Service:
United States NavyRank:
Lieutenant CommanderDivision:
Prisoner of War (North Vietnam)Action Date:
June 1970 – December 1972
The President of the United States of America takes pleasure in presenting a Second Gold Star in lieu of a Third Award of the Bronze Star Medal with Combat “V” to Lieutenant Commander Wendell Reed Alcorn (NSN: 0-5965359), United States Navy, for meritorious service as a Prisoner of War in North Vietnam from June 1970 to December 1972. Through his ceaseless efforts, in an atmosphere of enemy harassment, threat of torture and brutal treatment, he established and maintained intracamp communications. At great risk and in spite of further cruelty, he continued to devise many unusual and ingenious methods of communications, resulting in American and Allied prisoners resisting the enemy’s demands and at the same time improving the prisoners’ morale. By his heroic endeavors, exceptional skill, and devotion to duty, he reflected great credit upon himself and upheld the highest traditions of the Naval Service and the United States Armed Forces. [The Combat Distinguishing Device is authorized.]
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Silver Star
Service:
United States NavyRank:
Lieutenant CommanderDivision:
Prisoner of War (North Vietnam)Action Date:
December 1965
The President of the United States of America takes pleasure in presenting the Silver Star to Lieutenant Commander Wendell Reed Alcorn (NSN: 0-5965359), United States Navy, for conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity while interned as a Prisoner of War in North Vietnam. Upon being captured in December 1965, Lieutenant Commander Alcorn’s captors, completely ignoring international agreements, subjected him to extreme mental and physical cruelties in an attempt to obtain military information and false confessions for propaganda purposes. Through his resistance to those brutalities, he contributed significantly toward the eventual abandonment of harsh treatment by the North Vietnamese, which was attracting international attention. By his determination, courage, resourcefulness, and devotion to duty, he reflected great credit upon himself and upheld the highest traditions of the Naval Service and the United States Armed Forces.
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Legion of Merit
The President of the United States of America takes pleasure in presenting a Second Gold Star in lieu of a Third Award of the Legion of Merit to Captain Wendell Reed Alcorn (NSN: 0-5965359), United States Navy, for exceptionally meritorious conduct in the performance of outstanding services to the Government of the United States as Commanding Officer, Naval Air Station, Fallon, Nevada, from August 1987 through July 1989. Entrusted with command of the Navy’s only tactical training facility where real-time coordinated airwing operations can be accomplished, Captain Alcorn presided over and inspirationally led the station through unprecedented growth and development. With the operational tempo at an all time high, the Fallon Ranges, in conjunction with the Naval Strike Warfare Center, emerged as the world’s premier tactical training facility, and the Base Operating Support Contract was expertly guided through its technical evaluations and implementation. He formulated the input to the Congressionally mandated Special Nevada Report, detailing the present and future intentions of the Navy in the State of Nevada to the year 2000. As the Senior Naval Officer in Nevada, Captain Alcorn served as a most distinguished ambassador of good will and patriotism to local and national politicians, civic, and church organizations and the many audiences to whom he spoke throughout the state. By his unique challenges, keen foresight, and unflagging devotion to duty, Captain Alcorn reflected great credit upon himself and upheld the highest traditions of the United States Naval Service.