The President of the United States of America, authorized by Act of Congress, July 2, 1926, takes pleasure in presenting a Fourth Bronze Oak Leaf Cluster in lieu of a Fifth Award of the Distinguished Flying Cross to Captain William Glen Byrns, United States Air Force, for extraordinary achievement while participating in aerial flight as an F-4D Aircraft Commander over Hanoi, North Vietnam on 10 May 1972. On that date, despite barrage fire of all calibers of anti-aircraft artillery, surface-to-air missiles that exploded within the flight, and numerous hostile MiG aircraft attacking throughout the area, Captain Byrns, with complete disregard for his own personal safety, continued steadfastly in his ordnance deliveries to provide an essential protective shield for a following strike force targeted against the vital Paul Doumer Bridge. As a result of his heroic efforts in providing this necessary protection, the strike flights that he preceded were able to successfully interdict the rail and highway connections of the Paul Doumer Bridge, effectively halting the flow of large quantities of vital supplies and ammunition destined for use by the North Vietnamese invaders across the Demilitarized Zone in the Republic of Vietnam. The professional competence, aerial skill, and devotion to duty displayed by Captain Byrns reflect great credit upon himself and the United States Air Force.




