The President of the United States of America, authorized by Act of Congress, July 2, 1926, takes pleasure in presenting a Second Bronze Oak Leaf Cluster in addition to a previously awarded Silver Oak Leaf Cluster lieu of a Eighth Award of the Distinguished Flying Cross with Combat “V” to Major James Helms Kasler (AFSN: O-2221728/24551A), United States Air Force, for heroism while participating in aerial flight as an F-105 Thunderchief pilot near Kep, North Vietnam, on 18 July 1966. On that date, Major Kasler led his flight in the interdiction of the arterial northeast rail line between Hanoi and Communist China at the Suoi Co railroad bridge. After successfully attacking his assigned target, Major Kasler led his flight on a strafing rampage which, despite continuous heavy fire by the numerous anti-aircraft artillery batteries lining the rail line, resulted in the destruction of three separate trains heavily loaded with materials vital to North Vietnam’s war machine. The outstanding heroism and selfless devotion to duty displayed by Major Kasler reflect great credit upon himself and the United States Air Force.

The President of the United States of America, authorized by Act of Congress, July 2, 1926, takes pleasure in presenting a Silver Oak Leaf Cluster in lieu of a Sixth Award of the Distinguished Flying Cross with Combat “V” to Major James Helms Kasler (AFSN: O-2221728/24551A), United States Air Force, for heroism while participating in aerial flight as an F-105 pilot at Cao Nung, North Vietnam on 11 July 1966. On that date, Major Kasler was mission commander of a coordinated interdiction effort launched against North Vietnam’s vital northeast rail line, one of the two primary land routes of re-supply from Communist China. Major Kasler led his flight to this heavily defended railroad bridge target at tree top altitude with unerring accuracy and, although the bridge was partially obscured by cloud cover, maneuvered his flight so as to achieve destruction of this important target under intense hostile ground fire. The outstanding heroism and selfless devotion to duty displayed by Major Kasler reflect great credit upon himself and the United States Air Force.

The President of the United States of America, authorized by Act of Congress, July 2, 1926, takes pleasure in presenting a Fourth Bronze Oak Leaf Cluster in lieu of a Fifth Award of the Distinguished Flying Cross with Combat “V” to Major James Helms Kasler (AFSN: O-2221728/24551A), United States Air Force, for heroism while participating in aerial flight as an F-105 pilot at Phu Tho, North Vietnam on 3 July 1966. On that date, Major Kasler determinedly led his flight through solid weather that persisted from the refueling area to the heavily defended Red River Valley which he had been ordered to reconnoiter. There he discovered and attacked three trains in the Phu Tho marshalling yard, despite intense defensive fire, and destroyed both the trains and the yard in which they stood. He then attacked a convoy of trucks, personally destroying four of them before dwindling fuel reserves forced his withdrawal. The outstanding heroism and selfless devotion to duty displayed by Major Kasler reflect great credit upon himself and the United States Air Force.

The President of the United States of America, authorized by Act of Congress, July 2, 1926, takes pleasure in presenting a Silver Oak Leaf Cluster in addition to a previously awarded Bronze Oak Leaf Cluster lieu of a Seventh Award of the Distinguished Flying Cross with Combat “V” to Major James Helms Kasler (AFSN: O-2221728/24551A), United States Air Force, for heroism while participating in aerial flight as an F-105 fighter-bomber pilot at Thai Nhyen, North Vietnam on 2 June 1966. On that date, Major Kasler led his flight to the heavily defended Thai Nhyen highway bridge despite marginal weather conditions en route and in the target area that hampered his navigation and target acquisition. Despite accurate tracking fire that rocked his aircraft during the delivery maneuver, Major Kasler placed his two three-thousand-pound bombs on the center span of the bridge, rendering it unserviceable. The outstanding heroism and selfless devotion to duty displayed by Major Kasler reflect great credit upon himself and the United States Air Force.