The President of the United States of America, authorized by Title 10, Section 8742, United States Code, takes pleasure in presenting the Air Force Cross to Captain Jackson Lynn Hudson (AFSN: 0-78723), United States Air Force, for extraordinary heroism in military operations against an opposing armed force as an A-1 Skyraider pilot of the 602d Special Operations Squadron, Nakhon Phanom Royal Thai Air Base, Thailand, in action in Southeast Asia on 6 October 1969. On that date, Captain Hudson led and was responsible for the success of one of the largest search and rescue efforts ever attempted in Southeast Asia. With complete disregard for his own safety and despite extremely intense ground fire, Captain Hudson made repeated low-level passes delivering ordnance within ten meters of the survivors’ position. He led and coordinated the final attack which eventually incapacitated an estimated four hundred to six hundred hostile forces and saved the lives of fifty-four human beings. Through his extraordinary heroism, superb airmanship, and aggressiveness in the face of overwhelming hostile forces, Captain Hudson reflected the highest credit upon himself and the United States Air Force.