The President of the United States of America takes pride in presenting a Second Gold Star in lieu of a Third Award of the Distinguished Flying Cross (Posthumously) to Commander Robert Charles Hessom, United States Navy, for extraordinary achievement while participating in aerial flight in connection with military operations against the enemy during an armed road reconnaissance mission in North Vietnam on 5 March 1966. Commander Hessom led his flight against a bridge at a major highway intersection. While making a bombing attack in the face of heavy anti-aircraft fire from the target complex, he lost his life when his aircraft exploded from a hit.

The President of the United States of America takes pride in presenting a Gold Star in lieu of a Second Award of the Distinguished Flying Cross (Posthumously) to Commander Robert Charles Hessom, United States Navy, for extraordinary achievement while participating in aerial flight in connection with military operations against the enemy as the Flight Leader of an eleven-plane A-1 Skyraider force against the Phu Van Army Complex in North Vietnam on 19 March 1965. Commander Hessom maneuvered his flight into a precision bombing attack, destroying approximately 40 barracks and storage buildings. He then reversed course and led a napalm attack at 100 feet against an adjacent target of 21 barracks buildings, inflicting such devastating damage that no further attacks were required. After the primary attacks, he led his force in rocket and strafing attacks against secondary targets and again inflicted heavy damage.