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 pride in presenting the Distinguished Flying Cross (Posthumously) to Captain (Infantry) Fred Orr Jackson, Jr., United States Army, for heroism while participating in aerial flight evidenced by voluntary actions above and beyond the call of duty on 5 September 1969, while serving as a helicopter pilot with the Air Cavalry Troop, 11th Armored Cavalry Regiment, in the Republic of Vietnam. On this date in the vicinity of Loc Ninh, Captain Jackson was flying cover for a light observation helicopter which was performing a visual reconnaissance of the area. Suddenly the aircraft came under a heavy barrage of enemy ground fire which seriously damaged it. Captain Jackson immediately gave the pilot instructions for arriving safely at the Quan Loi basecamp and simultaneously set his gunship for a run on the enemy emplacements. Disregarding the intense hostile fire directed at his aircraft, he brought a highly accurate barrage of machine gun fire on the positions. He then broke contact and followed the damaged light helicopter, contacting the medical facilities and alerting them to the situation. When the disabled ship had landed safely, Captain Jackson volunteered to return to the same area with a second observation helicopter. He directed the aircraft out of the line of hostile fire when suddenly intense machine gun fire swept the gunship, setting it aflame. He began returning to the base camp, but the gunship was too severely damaged and crashed, killing him. Captain Jackson’s unwavering devotion to duty and personal courage were in keeping with the highest traditions of the military service and reflect great credit upon himself, his unit, and the United States Army.