The President of the United States of America takes pleasure in presenting the Distinguished Flying Cross to Lieutenant Commander Gerrald R. Tabrum, United States Navy, for heroism and extraordinary achievement while participating in aerial flight while serving with Attack Squadron ONE HUNDRED FIFTEEN (VA-115), embarked in U.S.S. KITTY HAWK (CVA-63) while engaged in the rescue of downed U.S. Air Force airmen in the Gulf of Tonkin off the shores of North Vietnam, on 14 March 1966. Under intense automatic weapons and anti-aircraft fire, he made repeated successful strafing and rocket attacks on enemy shore batteries and threatening boats. These attacks resulted in suppressing the gunfire, sinking three boats and discouraging other boats from interfering with the rescue. Helicopters were then able to pick up the downed airmen successfully.