The President of the United States of America, authorized by Act of Congress, July 2, 1926, takes pleasure in presenting a Bronze Oak Leaf Cluster in lieu of a Second Award of the Distinguished Flying Cross with Combat “V” to Major Richard Lawrence Mehr (AFSN: 0-64900), United States Air Force, for heroism while participating in aerial flight as an A-1E Skyraider Pilot in Southeast Asia on 10 April 1967. On that date, Major Mehr repeatedly exposed himself to withering fire from hostile anti-aircraft artillery and automatic weapon positions at low altitude and very slow airspeed for over one hour in a valiant and determined effort to locate and rescue a downed pilot. With unwavering courage and determination, Major Mehr continued the search in the face of intense and accurate fire, until he was forced by darkness and minimum fuel to leave the area. The outstanding heroism and selfless devotion to duty displayed by Major Mehr 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 the Distinguished Flying Cross to Major Richard Lawrence Mehr (AFSN: 0-64900), United States Air Force, for extraordinary achievement while participating in aerial flight as an A-1E Pilot in Southeast Asia on 6 and 7 January 1967. During this period, Major Mehr, flying a mission in support of a friendly outpost being overwhelmed by a numerically superior hostile force, braved accurate and intense automatic weapons fire to make repeated low level attacks in close proximity to friendly forces. His flight of A-1E Skyraiders operated in mountainous terrain and hazardous weather conditions to destroy hostile weapons emplacements and troops within fifty meters of friendly positions, forcing them to break off their attack and continued strikes along their line of retreat over a two day period. Numerous casualties are known to have been inflicted upon the hostile forces, despite repeated battle damage to strike aircraft. As a result of these devastating attacks, the hostile forces ceased to operate and function as a unit. The key outpost, vital to the entire search and rescue alert posture in Southeast Asia, survived solely as a result of these A-1E attacks during the two day period. The professional competence, aerial skill, and devotion to duty displayed by Major Mehr 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 Second Bronze Oak Leaf Cluster in lieu of a Third Award of the Distinguished Flying Cross to Major Richard Lawrence Mehr (AFSN: 0-64900), United States Air Force, for extraordinary achievement while participating in aerial flight as an A-1E Skyraider pilot in Southeast Asia on 26 June 1967. On that date, Major Mehr was flying his A-1E Skyraider in support of friendly ground forces engaged in defense of their beleaguered outpost. With unwavering calmness and courage, Major Mehr attacked and destroyed critical storage areas, troop emplacements and anti-aircraft gun positions despite mountainous terrain, low cloud cover and withering fire from the hostile forces which damaged two of the friendly aircraft. Major Mehr remained in this hostile area for more than one hour making approximately fifteen passes against the unfriendly positions. The professional competence, aerial skill, and devotion to duty displayed by Major Mehr reflect great credit upon himself and the United States Air Force.