The President of the United States of America, authorized by Act of Congress, July 2, 1926, takes pleasure in presenting a Third Bronze Oak Leaf Cluster in lieu of a Fourth Award of the distinguished Flying Cross to Staff Sergeant Earl Eugene Chambers (AFSN: AF-18631752), United States Air Force, for extraordinary achievement while participating in aerial flight as an HH-3E Flight Engineer in the Demilitarized Zone of North Vietnam on 16 May 1967. On that date, Sergeant Chambers entered an intensely hostile area and braved automatic weapons fire in attempting to rescue two downed American pilots. Although forced to withdraw after hostile fire disabled one of the aircraft’s engines, Sergeant Chambers’ efforts paved the way for a later successful rescue operation by another helicopter. The professional competence, aerial skill, and devotion to duty displayed by Staff Sergeant Chambers reflect great credit upon himself and the United States Air Force.


