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 Hershel David Alexander (NSN: 0-626976), United States Navy, for heroism and extraordinary achievement while participating in aerial flight as the pilot of a jet aircraft attached to Fighting Squadron ONE HUNDRED FORTY-TWO (VF-142), in U.S.S. CONSTELLATION (CVA-64), on 10 June 1967. As the leader of a flight of four aircraft assigned the mission of flak suppression, Lieutenant Commander Alexander distinguished himself in a daring and extremely hazardous attack on the heavily-fortified military complex at Van Dien, adjacent to Hanoi, North Vietnam. In the face of multiple enemy surface-to-air missile firings and intense anti-aircraft fire, he heroically accelerated his flight ahead of the main striking force, drawing the majority of the enemy’s opposition to himself. His gallant airmanship and exceptional accuracy resulted in the destruction of a multiple-gun emplacement thereby allowing the main striking force to effectively destroy the primary targets. Lieutenant Commander Alexander’s heroism, professional airmanship and outstanding leadership in the face of immediate personal danger were in keeping with the highest traditions of the United States Naval Service.

The President of the United States of America takes pleasure in presenting the Distinguished Flying Cross to Lieutenant Hershel David Alexander (NSN: 0-626976), United States Navy, for heroism and extraordinary achievement while participating in aerial flight as a member of Attack Carrier Air Wing FOURTEEN, embarked in U.S.S. RANGER (CVA-61), during the devastatingly effective strike on the Haiphong petroleum and oil storage area in North Vietnam on 29 June 1966. Despite intense and determined opposition from one of the largest known concentrations of anti-aircraft weapons, Lieutenant Alexander unhesitatingly carried out his exceptionally damaging attack. Using his equipment so expertly that not one bomb or rocket was observed to fall outside the carefully restricted target area, he materially and directly contributed to the destruction of the storage facility and over 40 percent of the entire North Vietnamese petroleum supply. The strike was carrier out swiftly and with such professionalism that not one airplane was damaged in the attack. Lieutenant Alexander’s skill, courage and dedicated devotion to duty in the face of extremely hazardous flying conditions were in keeping with the highest traditions of the United States Naval Service.