The President of the United States of America takes pleasure in presenting the Distinguished Flying Cross to Lieutenant, Junior Grade Joseph Eugene Kernan (NSN: B-290048), United States Navy, for heroism while participating in aerial flight as reconnaissance attack navigator of an aircraft while attached to Reconnaissance Attack Squadron SEVEN (VA(R)-7), embarked in U.S.S. KITTY HAWK (CVA-63). On 6 May 1972, Lieutenant, Junior Grade, Kernan, in spite of intense enemy anti-aircraft fire and surface-to-air missile threats, was instrumental in obtaining urgently required target development and bomb damage assessment photography of enemy supply and transportation facilities near Nam Dinh, North Vietnam. Lieutenant, Junior Grade, Kernan’s imaginative and resourceful mission planning, precise navigation and skillful operation of the reconnaissance system provided outstanding quality photographic imagery of the complete Nam Dinh area, allowing construction of current and detailed intelligence data base. Lieutenant, Junior Grade, Kernan’s superb airmanship, courage and devotion to duty reflected great credit upon himself and were in keeping with the highest traditions of the United States Naval Service.