The President of the United States of America takes pleasure in presenting the Distinguished Flying Cross to Lieutenant Commander Richard Kenneth Halverson, United States Navy, for extraordinary achievement while participating in aerial flight while attached to Attack Squadron ONE HUNDRED NINETY-FIVE (VA-195), embarked in U.S.S. BON HOMME RICHARD (CVA-31), on 23 September 1965. Lieutenant Commander Halverson, flying on a road reconnaissance, displayed extraordinary skill by destroying a bridge in North Vietnam. His attack resulted in the complete collapse of the bridge span and supporting structure into the river bed. Lieutenant Commander Halverson’s marksmanship in an area of known enemy ground fire was in keeping with the highest traditions of the United States Naval Service.