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.
Sponsored by:
Awards Received
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Distinguished Flying Cross
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Silver Star
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Distinguished Flying Cross
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Silver Star
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Distinguished Flying Cross
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Distinguished Flying Cross
Headquarters, 7th Air Force, Special Orders G-2118 (August 31, 1972)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.
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Silver Star
Service:
United States Air ForceRank:
CaptainBatallion:
20th Tactical Air Support SquadronAction Date:
September 11, 1967
Headquarters, 7th Air Force, Special Order G-1858 (October 28, 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 Ronald D. Clisby (AFSN: FV-3104258), United States Air Force, for gallantry in connection with military operations against an opposing armed force as a Forward Air Controller in an O-2 Bird Dog aircraft of the 20th Tactical Air Support Squadron, directing fighter aircraft strikes in Southeast Asia on 11 September 1967. On that date, Captain Clisby assumed control of extracting a U.S. Special Forces reconnaissance team from hostile territory. The team had just been inserted and covering airpower dismissed when they received contact from numerically superior hostile forces. Recognizing the impending disaster, Captain Clisby recalled the helicopters and tactical fighters; pin-pointing the hostile location by diving his aircraft at tree top level; and calmly insured the safe extraction of the team despite the low fuel state of all aircraft concerned. By his gallantry and devotion to duty, Captain Clisby has reflected great credit upon himself and the United States Air Force.
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Distinguished Flying Cross
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 Captain Ronald D. Clisby (AFSN: FV-3104258), United States Air Force, for extraordinary achievement while participating in aerial flight as a Forward Air Controller in an unarmed O-1 Bird Dog aircraft in Southeast Asia on 5 June 1967. On that date, Captain Clisby exercised the utmost in pilot ability, calm decision making, and application of correct emergency procedures to bring his battle-damaged aircraft to a safe landing on an emergency strip. The professional competence, aerial skill, and devotion to duty displayed by Captain Clisby reflect great credit upon himself and the United Sates Air
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Silver Star
Service:
United States Air ForceRank:
CaptainBatallion:
20th Tactical Air Support SquadronAction Date:
September 27, 1967
Headquarters, 7th Air Force, Special Order G-7 (January 2, 1968)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 Ronald D. Clisby (AFSN: FV-3104258), United States Air Force, for gallantry in connection with military operations against an opposing armed force as a Forward Air Controller in an O-2 Bird Dog aircraft of the 20th Tactical Air Support Squadron, directing fighter aircraft strikes in Southeast Asia on 27 September 1967. On that date, Captain Clisby directed tactical airpower as it neutralized hostile anti-aircraft and unfriendly forces in the Tigerhound area of operations. Ignoring the intense hostile fire which scored multiple hits on his unarmed light observation aircraft, Captain Clisby remained in the target area until the target was neutralized, thus preventing a major instance of hostile infiltration. By his gallantry and devotion to duty, Captain Clisby has reflected great credit upon himself and the United States Air Force.
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Distinguished Flying Cross
Headquarters, 7th Air Force, Special Orders G-1187 (1967)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.