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 James D. Ballsmith, United States Air Force, for extraordinary achievement while participating in aerial flight as an AC-130 Gunship Electronic Warfare Officer in Laos on 4 February 1971. On that date, while on a night armed reconnaissance mission over heavily defended hostile supply routes, he directly assisted in the damage or destruction of 30 hostile supply vehicles, the creation of 12 secondary fires and the ignition of 11 secondary explosions. He diligently operated his Black Crow sensor with skill and dexterity, ferreting out, and tracking his target in spite of the dense jungle below and antiaircraft fire being directed at the Gunship. His efforts resulted in the destruction of large amounts of supplies destined for unfriendly hands in Southeast Asia. The professional competence, aerial skill and devotion to duty displayed by Major Ballsmith 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 to Major James D. Ballsmith, United States Air Force, for extraordinary achievement while participating in aerial flight as an AC-130 Gunship Fire Control Officer over Laos on 21 March 1971. On that date, while on a night armed reconnaissance mission over heavily defended hostile supply routes, his actions led to the damage or destruction of 34 hostile supply vehicles and the creation of numerous secondary fires and explosions. Despite the incessant threat of intense, accurate antiaircraft fire, he expertly coordinated and validated all the complex sensor and Fire Control System operations making this outstanding combat mission possible. The professional competence, aerial skill and devotion to duty displayed by Major Ballsmith 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 Bronze Oak Leaf Cluster in lieu of a Second Award of the Distinguished Flying Cross to Major James D. Ballsmith, United States Air Force, for extraordinary achievement while participating in aerial flight as an AC-130 Gunship Electronic Warfare Officer in Laos on 17 January 1971. On that date, while on a night armed reconnaissance mission over heavily defended hostile supply routes, he directly assisted in the damage or destruction of 20 hostile supply vehicles, the ignition of six secondary fires and 12 secondary explosions. He acquired and tracked hostile supply vehicles with his Black Crow Sensor while operating Electronic Countermeasures equipment despite violent maneuvers to evade intense and accurate hostile antiaircraft fire. The professional competence, aerial skill and devotion to duty displayed by Major Ballsmith 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 Third Bronze Oak Leaf Cluster in lieu of a Fourth Award of the Distinguished Flying Cross to Major James D. Ballsmith, United States Air Force, for extraordinary achievement while participating in aerial flight as an AC-130 Gunship Electronic Warfare Officer in Laos on 24 April 1971. On that date, while on a night armed reconnaissance missions, his actions led to the damage or destruction of 19 hostile supply vehicles and the ignition of four secondary fires and five secondary explosions. Putting aside his concern for personal safety in the face of 6346 rounds of hostile antiaircraft fire he succeeded in destroying large amounts of supplies and munitions destined for use against friendly forces. The professional competence, aerial skill and devotion to duty displayed by Major Ballsmith 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 James D. Ballsmith, United States Air Force, for extraordinary achievement while participating in aerial flight as an AC-130 Gunship Fire Control Officer in Laos on 13 January 1971. On that date, while on a night armed reconnaissance mission over heavily defended hostile supply routes, he directly assisted in the damage or destruction of 29 hostile supply vehicles, the ignition of four secondary fires and 17 secondary explosions. He evaluated the gunship’s firing geometry, made instantaneous error analysis, applied corrective measures, operated the bomb damage assessment video recorder despite the intense, accurate hostile antiaircraft fire and the violent evasive maneuvers. The professional competence, aerial skill and devotion to duty displayed by Major Ballsmith 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 Bronze Oak Leaf Cluster in addition to a previously awarded Silver Oak Leaf Cluster in lieu of a Seventh Award of the Distinguished Flying Cross to Major James D. Ballsmith, United States Air Force, for extraordinary achievement while participating in aerial flight as an AC-130 Gunship Electronic Warfare Officer over Laos on 16 April 1971. On that date, while on a night armed reconnaissance mission over heavily defended hostile supply routes, his actions led to the damage or destruction of 39 hostile supply vehicles, and the creation of numerous secondary fires and explosions. The devastation imposed on the hostile supply network by this mission, despite the intense antiaircraft fire, boldly attest to his superior ability to operate the gunship’s sensor systems and to electronically defend the gunship. The professional competence, aerial skill and devotion to duty displayed by Major Ballsmith reflect great credit upon himself and the United States Air Force.