Navy Federal Credit Union

Awards Received

  • Distinguished Flying Cross

    Service:

    United States Navy

    Rank:

    Lieutenant

    Action Date:

    March 26, 1967

    Department of the Army, General Orders No. 46 (October 26, 1967)

    The President of the United States of America, authorized by Act of Congress, July 2, 1926, takes pleasure in presenting the Distinguished Flying Cross (Army Award) to Lieutenant Alfred J. Banford (NSN: 0-648040), United States Navy, for heroism while participating in aerial flight on 26 March 1967, in the Republic of Vietnam. On this date Lieutenant Banford was serving as Aircraft Commander of an armed helicopter. When a United States Army helicopter company became heavily committed in a large combat operation, sustaining several helicopter losses, Lieutenant Banford unhesitatingly volunteered to assist by piloting a spare armed helicopter in dangerous attacks upon the large, well armed Viet Cong force. Lieutenant Banford, providing suppressive fire for a flight of reinforcement-loaded helicopters, attacked the Viet Cong machinegun positions at perilously low levels, insuring that his rockets were accurate and devastating. This heroic action, although performed in the face of intense enemy ground fire, allowed the vitally needed reinforcements to land, organize, and link up with a Vietnamese force pinned down by heavy communist fire. Rearming and refueling at an exhausting pace, Lieutenant Banford quickly returned to the operational area to again distinguish himself by providing heroic suppressive attacks on the enemy positions while a medical evacuation helicopter descended to extract casualties from the battlefield. Lieutenant Banford’s aggressive aerial attacks were great contributions to the successful removal of many critically wounded soldiers and downed aviators from positions only meters away from Viet Cong machine gun positions. When a United States Army aircraft reported receiving heavy machinegun fire, Lieutenant Banford acted immediately to locate the weapon position and bring it under devastating fire. Risking his own life to protect the other helicopter, Lieutenant Banford pressed his rocket attack to a dangerously close range and completely destroyed the enemy fortification, preventing further casualties to aircraft in the area. Lieutenant Banford’s aggressive assaults and courageous actions were instrumental to the final defeat of the Viet Cong force and his outstanding devotion to duty brings great credit upon himself, his unit, and the United States Navy.