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 Ronald D. Clisby (AFSN: FV-3104258), United States Air Force, for extraordinary achievement while participating in aerial flight as an AC-130 Gunship Pilot over Laos on 6 December 1971. On that date, while on a night armed reconnaissance mission, his actions led to the damage or destruction of 17 hostile supply vehicles and the ignition of 20 secondary fires and explosions. Putting aside his concern for personal safety in the face of 123 rounds of hostile anti-aircraft 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 Clisby 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 Captain Ronald D. Clisby (AFSN: FV-3104258), United States Air Force, for extraordinary achievement while participating in aerial flight as a Forward Air Controller Southeast Asia on 26 April 1967. On that date, Captain Clisby was serving as the Forward Air Controller in support of ground troops operating in a denied area. Immediately upon infiltration the ground element was brought under intense automatic weapons fire from three locations. Captain Clisby observing this fire systematically marked each target for destruction by tactical air despite the heavy volume of fire directed at his aircraft. With the suppressing of the hostile fire Captain Clisby found himself not only the Forward Air Controller but also the Controller of the ground element due to the loss of the rear seat radios. Displaying the highest degree of professional competence he directed the beleaguered ground element toward an exfiltration landing zone. As he directed the helicopters into the landing zone the hostile force brought 12.7MM heavy machine gun fire to bear on the exfiltrating force. Captain Clisby’s marking rockets expanded, he repeatedly courted disaster by flying low and marking each target with hand thrown smoke grenades. No sooner had this threat been eliminated when the hostile force employed 37MM anti-aircraft weapons. Calmly and deliberately Captain Clisby maneuvered his aircraft to a vantage point located and directed tactical air destroying the final threat. The professional competence, aerial skill and devotion to duty displayed by Captain Clisby 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 Captain Ronald D. Clisby (AFSN: FV-3104258), United States Air Force, for extraordinary achievement as a Forward Air Controller while engaged in aerial flight in an unarmed O-1 Bird Dog aircraft over Southeast Asia on 20 May 1967. On that date, Captain Clisby managed through great skill and application of emergency procedures to save a badly damaged O-1 after it had been directly hit by hostile anti-aircraft fire. With the cockpit full of shrapnel holes and with Captain Clisby wounded, he recovered the aircraft from an unusual attitude and managed to return to his home field and land safely in a high wind. The professional competence, aerial skill, and calm execution of procedures by Captain Clisby reflect great credit upon himself and the United States Air Force.