The President of the United States of America takes pleasure in presenting the Distinguished Flying Cross to Lieutenant Jiles Underhill Acord, Jr. (NSN: 661234/6802), United States Navy, for heroism and extraordinary achievement while participating in aerial flight as a Naval Flight Officer of a jet Aircraft attached to Attack Squadron ONE HUNDRED NINETY-SIX (VA-196), embarked in U.S.S. CONSTELLATION (CVA-64), in action in Southeast Asia on 6 October 1967. Lieutenant Acord, as bombardier/navigator of an A-6 Intruder, participated in a coordinated Carrier Air Wing FOURTEEN strike against the Loc Binh highway bypass bridge, in North Vietnam. The bridge was located six miles from the border of Communist China, demanding the ultimate in navigational skill to locate the target and to achieve the desired attack heading. Lieutenant Acord precisely navigated his aircraft through the unfamiliar mountainous terrain, located his target, and assisted his pilot in making a perfect attack, placing nine 1,000 pound bombs squarely on the bridge. As a result of the attack, one span was completely destroyed and the heavily constructed central and northern supporting structures severely damaged. The bridge was assessed to be unserviceable. Lieutenant Acord’s extraordinary professional ability and his exceptional courage while operating in an extremely dangerous enemy environment were in keeping with the highest traditions of the United States Naval Service.