The President of the United States of America takes pleasure in presenting a Gold Star in lieu of a Second Award of the Distinguished Flying Cross to Lieutenant Commander Edwin A. Greathouse, United States Navy, for extraordinary achievement while participating in aerial flight while serving as a Pilot with Attack Squadron TWENTY-FIVE (VA-25), embarked in U.S.S. MIDWAY (CVA-41), while leading a section of A-1 aircraft on a Rescue Combat Air Patrol mission, on 27 July 1965. Lieutenant Commander Greathouse and his wingman were called to aid a downed Air Force pilot in the vicinity of Hanoi, North Vietnam. Aware that he was the only one who knew the exact location of the downed pilot, and realizing that a search of the area would be hazardous due to the proximity of anti-aircraft positions and missile sites, Lieutenant Commander Greathouse elected to remain in the area until the rescue aircraft arrived. In spite of the heavy fire from nearby anti-aircraft sites, the rescue mission was accomplished.

The President of the United States of America takes pleasure in presenting the Distinguished Flying Cross to Lieutenant Commander Edwin A. Greathouse, United States Navy, for extraordinary achievement while participating in aerial flight while serving as a Pilot with Attack Squadron TWENTY-FIVE (VA-25), embarked in U.S.S. MIDWAY (CVA-41) flying fixed wing aircraft during a mission in support of combat operations in Southeast Asia against North Vietnamese forces on 20 June 1965. Lieutenant Commander Greathouse engaged two enemy aircraft in low-altitude aerial combat. In spite of the distinct advantage held by the enemy, he skillfully evaded the attacks and, initiating an attack of his own, assisted in a confirmed kill and drove off the remaining aircraft.