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.

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.