The President of the United States of America, authorized by Act of Congress, July 2, 1926, takes pleasure in presenting a Fourth Bronze Oak Leaf Cluster in lieu of a Fifth Award of the Distinguished Flying Cross with Combat “V” to Major Thomas Joseph Coady, United States Air Force, for heroism while participating in aerial flight as an F-105G Pilot over Southeast Asia on 29 September 1972. On that date, while suppressing hostile air defenses in support of air strikes near Phuc Yen Airfield, North Vietnam, Major Coady repeatedly attacked the dense concentration of surface-to-air missile sites which guarded the approaches to the airfield. Major Coady’s aggressive and courageous attacks on these positions, in the face of heavy anti-aircraft missile and artillery fire, significantly reduced the threat to the strike force as they completed their mission. The outstanding heroism and selfless devotion to duty displayed by Major Coady 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 Silver Oak Leaf Cluster in lieu of a Sixth Award of the Distinguished Flying Cross to Major Thomas Joseph Coady, United States Air Force, for extraordinary achievement while participating in aerial flight as an F-105G Pilot in Southeast Asia on 27 December 1972. On that date, Major Coady repeatedly engaged hostile air defense positions which opposed the bomber force. His aggressive and courageous attacks against surface-to-air missile sites, in the face of heavy anti-aircraft missile and artillery fire, enabled the strike forces to reach their targets, successfully complete their mission, and safely withdraw. The professional competence, aerial skill, and devotion to duty displayed by Major Coady 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 Major Thomas Joseph Coady, United States Air Force, for extraordinary achievement while participating in aerial flight as an Electronic Warfare Officer on 16 April 1972. On that date, Major Coady, with complete disregard for his own personal safety, seriously degraded the surface-to-air missile capability surrounding a heavy defended target in Southeast Asia. His aggressive actions were directly responsible for the safe return of all friendly forces and the successful completion of the assigned mission. The professional competence, aerial skill, and devotion to duty displayed by Major Coady 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 Major Thomas Joseph Coady, United States Air Force, for extraordinary achievement while participating in aerial flight as an F-105G Aircraft Commander near the Kep Railroad Yards, North Vietnam, on 24 August 1972. On that date, Major Coady repeatedly engaged enemy radar threats, despite extreme hazards of enemy aircraft, heavy anti-aircraft artillery and overlapping coverage of numerous surface to air missiles. As a result of his efforts, enemy air defense capabilities were seriously degraded, thereby increasing the survivability of subsequent strike forces. The professional competence, aerial skill, and devotion to duty displayed by Major Coady 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 Third Bronze Oak Leaf Cluster in lieu of a Fourth Award of the Distinguished Flying Cross with Combat “V” to Major Thomas Joseph Coady, United States Air Force, for heroism while participating in aerial flight in Southeast Asia on 2 September 1972. On that date, Major Coady succeeded in neutralizing the formidable array of hostile air defenses including anti-aircraft artillery, surface-to-air missiles and hostile interceptors while in support of a strike force attacking a strategic target in the vicinity of Hanoi, North Vietnam. Despite great risk to his own aircraft, Major Coady continued to engage all opposing hostile air defenses in the target area until the strike force had completed its mission and all aircraft had safely exited the target area. The outstanding heroism and selfless devotion to duty displayed by Major Coady reflect great credit upon himself and the United States Air Force.