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 First Lieutenant Loren Harvey Torkelson (AFSN: FV-3155656), United States Air Force, for extraordinary achievement while participating in aerial flight as an F-4C Pilot in Southeast Asia on 25 September 1966. On that date, while on a combat support mission over South Vietnam, Lieutenant Torkelson was instrumental in suppressing hostile fire and significantly weakening the unfriendly forces’ combat capabilities. The professional competence, aerial skill, and devotion to duty displayed by Lieutenant Torkelson reflect great credit upon himself and the United States Air Force.
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Awards Received
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Bronze Star Medal
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Silver Star
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Silver Star
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Prisoner of War Medal
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Legion of Merit
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Distinguished Flying Cross
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Distinguished Flying Cross
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Bronze Star Medal
Service:
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Prisoner of War (North Vietnam)Action Date:
September 1968 – November 1969
The President of the United States of America, authorized by Executive Order 11046, 24 August 1962, takes pleasure in presenting the Bronze Star Medal with Combat “V” to Captain Loren Harvey Torkelson (AFSN: FV-3155656), United States Air Force, for heroic achievement as a Prisoner of War while engaged in operations against an opposing armed force in North Vietnam from September 1968 to November 1969. In an atmosphere of enemy harassment and brutal treatment, he continued to establish and maintain communications through unusual and ingenious methods, which resulted in American and Allied prisoners presenting a posture of increased resistance to the enemy’s wishes, and, at the same time, improving prisoner morale. By his heroic endeavors and devotion to duty, under adverse conditions of his environment, he reflected great credit upon himself and the United States Air Force.
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Silver Star
Service:
United States Air ForceRank:
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Prisoner of War (North Vietnam)Action Date:
May 1967
The President of the United States of America, authorized by Act of Congress July 9, 1918 (amended by an act of July 25, 1963), takes pleasure in presenting a Bronze Oak Leaf Cluster in lieu of a Second Award of the Silver Star to Captain Loren Harvey Torkelson (AFSN: FV-3155656), United States Air Force, for gallantry and intrepidity in action in connection with military operations against an opposing armed force in May 1967 while a Prisoner of War in North Vietnam. Ignoring international agreements on treatment of prisoners of war, the enemy resorted to mental and physical cruelties to obtain information, confessions, and propaganda materials. Captain Torkelson resisted their demands by calling upon his deepest inner strengths in a manner which reflected his devotion to duty and great credit upon himself and the United States Air Force.
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Silver Star
Headquarters, 7th Air Force, Special Orders No. G-754 (1967)The President of the United States of America, authorized by Act of Congress July 9, 1918 (amended by an act of July 25, 1963), takes pleasure in presenting the Silver Star to Captain Loren Harvey Torkelson (AFSN: FV-3155656), United States Air Force, for gallantry in connection with military operations against an opposing armed force as an F-4C Aircraft Commander over North Vietnam on 29 April 1967. On that date, while under intense and accurate fire from unfriendly forces, Lieutenant Torkelson demonstrated cool courage, undaunted determination, and superior skill in pressing home devastating air attacks against hostile positions. Persevering in the face of danger, he relentlessly and effectively aided in neutralizing the hostile forces. By his gallantry and devotion to duty, Lieutenant Torkelson has reflected great credit upon himself and the United States Air Force.
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Prisoner of War Medal
Service:
United States Air ForceRank:
CaptainDivision:
Prisoner of War (North Vietnam)Action Date:
April 29, 1967 – March 4, 1973
Captain Loren Harvey Torkelson (AFSN: FV-3155656), United States Air Force, was held as a Prisoner of War in North Vietnam from April 29, 1967 until his release on March 4, 1973.
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Legion of Merit
Service:
United States Air ForceRank:
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Prisoner of War (North Vietnam)Action Date:
April 1967 – April 1970
The President of the United States of America, authorized by Act of Congress, 20 July 1942, takes pleasure in presenting the Legion of Merit to Captain Loren Harvey Torkelson (AFSN: FV-3155656), United States Air Force, for exceptionally meritorious conduct in the performance of outstanding services to the Government of the United States as a Prisoner of War in North Vietnam from April 1967 to April 1970. His ceaseless efforts, by a continuous showing of resistance to an enemy who ignored all international agreements on treatment of Prisoners of War, in the extremely adverse conditions of the communist prisons of North Vietnam, demonstrated his professional competence, unwavering devotion, and loyalty to his country. Despite the harsh treatment through his long years of incarceration, he continued to perform his duties in a clearly exceptional manner which reflected great credit upon himself and the United States Air Force.
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Distinguished Flying Cross
Headquarters, 7th Air Force, Special Orders No. G-1172 (1966)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 First Lieutenant Loren Harvey Torkelson (AFSN: FV-3155656), United States Air Force, for extraordinary achievement while participating in aerial flight as an F-4C Pilot in Southeast Asia on 22 November 1966. On that date, while on a combat mission over North Vietnam, Lieutenant Torkelson was instrumental in destroying a significant target while exposed to extremely hazardous defensive reactions. The professional competence, aerial skill, and devotion to duty displayed by Lieutenant Torkelson reflect great credit upon himself and the United States Air Force.
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Distinguished Flying Cross
Headquarters, 7th Air Force, Special Orders No. G-729 (1967)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 First Lieutenant Loren Harvey Torkelson (AFSN: FV-3155656), United States Air Force, for extraordinary achievement while participating in aerial flight as an F-4C Aircraft Commander in Southeast Asia on 31 March 1967. On that date, Lieutenant Torkelson’s flight executed a strike against a vital hostile munitions storage area. Although hostile fire was present and the night weather was deteriorating rapidly, Lieutenant Torkelson’s flight suppressed the hostile munitions area. As determined by the Forward Air controller, the munitions area was one of the largest yet destroyed in this theater, therefore, causing the unfriendly forces very serious logistics problems. The professional competence, aerial skill, and devotion to duty displayed by Lieutenant Torkelson reflect great credit upon himself and the United States Air Force.