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 Donald L. Pierce, United States Air Force, for extraordinary achievement while participating in aerial flight as an F-4D Aircraft Commander over Southeast Asia on 8 July 1972. On that date, Major Pierce displayed outstanding airmanship and courage making repeated armed reconnaissance and night attacks while directing six strike flights against a hostile and well-camouflaged truck convoy and storage area in North Vietnam. Despite multiple rounds of high caliber anti-aircraft artillery and the immediate threat of numerous heat-seeking and radar-guided surface-to-air missiles he was directly responsible in the destruction of three heavily laden trucks, and igniting one large sustained fire. The professional competence, aerial skill and devotion to duty displayed by Major Pierce reflect great credit upon himself and the United States Air Force.