The President of the United States of America, authorized by Act of Congress, July 9, 1918, takes pleasure in presenting the Air Force Distinguished Service Medal to Colonel Frank Borman, United States Air Force, for exceptionally meritorious and distinguished service in a position of great responsibility to the Government of the United States. Colonel Borman distinguished himself as Astronaut with the National Aeronautics and Space Administration, Manned Spacecraft Center, Houston, Texas, from 21 December 1968 to 27 December 1968. During this period, Colonel Borman’s outstanding achievements and his dynamic leadership and initiative as Commander of the Apollo 8 Spacecraft resulted in the completion of man’s first lunar orbiting flight. Ten orbits of the moon were successfully accomplished. Navigation and photographic investigations revealed many facts never before known to man. This dramatic flight was the first time that man has safely flown over 25,000 miles per hour and orbited the moon at a distance of 234,087 statute miles from earth. The singularly distinctive accomplishments of Colonel Borman reflect the highest credit upon himself and the United States Air Force.