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 Ralph L. Kuster, Jr. (AFSN: FR-47491), United States Air Force, for heroism while participating in aerial flight as a combat strike pilot near Thai Nguyen, North Vietnam, on 30 June 1967. On that date, as the element leader in a flight of four F-105 aircraft, he was directed to strike an intensely defended strategic rail yard. Although his aircraft received two direct hits during the attack, he pressed on with selfless disregard of his personal safety and delivered his ordnance on the target. As a result of the hostile ground fire that had crippled his aircraft, Major Kuster was forced to eject over unfriendly territory. The outstanding heroism and selfless devotion to duty displayed by Major Kuster 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 Fourth Bronze Oak Leaf Cluster in lieu of a Fifth Award of the Distinguished Flying Cross to Major Ralph L. Kuster, Jr. (AFSN: FR-47491), United States Air Force, for extraordinary achievement while participating in aerial flight as a combat strike pilot near Kep, North Vietnam, on 7 July 1967. On that date, while flying an F-105 Thunderchief, Major Kuster was directed to strike at numerous flak sites surrounding Kep Airfield in support of a major air attack. Undaunted when his aircraft was surrounded by intense ground fire, Major Kuster in a voluntary act of bravery, relentlessly pressed the attack and silenced the hostile guns. The professional competence, aerial skill, and devotion to duty displayed by Major Kuster 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 the Distinguished Flying Cross to Major Ralph L. Kuster, Jr. (AFSN: FR-47491), United States Air Force, for extraordinary achievement while participating in aerial flight as an F-105 Pilot over Southeast Asia on 14 March 1967. On that date, Major Kuster, in his F-105 Thunderchief, destroyed a strategically located mountain command post and fortress. This action allowed friendly forces to overtake this vital hostile position and to deny the hostiles the use of adjacent highway routes that had been used to transport hostile supplies and troops to South Vietnam. The professional competence, aerial skill, and devotion to duty displayed by Major Kuster 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 Ralph L. Kuster, Jr. (AFSN: FR-47491), United States Air Force, for extraordinary achievement while participating in aerial flight as an F-105 Thunderchief Pilot over North Vietnam on 25 April 1967. On that date, Major Kuster was a member of a flak suppression flight for a strike force which hit a vital target in North Vietnam. Despite intense anti-aircraft artillery fire and two MiG encounters, Major Kuster delivered his ordnance precisely on target, enabling the strike force to get into the target area and complete a most successful mission. The professional competence, aerial skill, and devotion to duty displayed by Major Kuster reflect great credit upon himself and the United States Air Force.