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 with Combat “V” to Captain Edward John Haerter (AFSN: Fighter Group-3199749), United States Air Force, for heroism while participating in aerial flight as an F-100 Pilot of the 174th Tactical Fighter Squadron, Phu Cat Air Base, South Vietnam, in action in Southeast Asia on 1 November 1968. On that date, Captain Haerter was flying the wing position of Bat 71 flight, 174th Tactical Fighter Squadron. The flight was scheduled to provide flak suppression for a flight of F-04’s fragged to deliver special ordnance into a heavily defended portion of the DMZ where several aircraft had received battle damage the previous day. Captain Haerter’s determination to remain in the area despite low fuel demonstrated outstanding devotion to duty and his low level ordnance deliveries directly into the fury of heavy ground fire reflect heroism of the highest degree. The outstanding heroism and selfless devotion to duty displayed by Captain Haerter reflect great credit upon himself and upheld the highest traditions of 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 Captain Edward John Haerter (AFSN: Fighter Group-3199749), United States Air Force, for heroism while participating in aerial flight as an F-100 Pilot of the 174th Tactical Fighter Squadron, Phu Cat Air Base, South Vietnam, in action in Southeast Asia on 22 January 1969. On that date, Captain Haerter was the fourth member of a four-ship flight of F-100’s which rendezvoused with the Forward Air Controller, Wolf 02. The enemy gunners were fully alerted to the airborne threat since the FAC drew heavy fire and the fighters dove through thick airbursts. Captain Haerter realized he would have to fly literally at point-blank range to the ground fire to insure maximum delivery effectiveness but he willingly accepted the increased exposure to insure target destruction. Captain Haerter, with complete disregard for his own personal safety, accomplished repeated ordnance deliveries through extremely heavy hostile ground fir to decimate a hostile supply convoy. The outstanding heroism and selfless devotion to duty displayed by Captain Haerter reflect great credit upon himself and upheld the highest traditions of 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 Captain Edward John Haerter (AFSN: Fighter Group-3199749), United States Air Force, for extraordinary achievement while participating in aerial flight as an F-100 Pilot of the 174th Tactical Fighter Squadron, Phu Cat Air Base, South Vietnam, in action in Southeast Asia on 1 August 1968. On that date, Captain Haerter struck a target containing heavy road construction equipment being used to repair vitally important supply routes. The heavily camouflaged equipment was in an almost inaccessible location for an air attack, the bottom of an extremely narrow ravine which ended abruptly against a towering 3,500 foot high mountain. With unerring pilot skill and complete disregard for his own safety, Captain Haerter maneuvered his aircraft into the ravine and attacked the target with bombs, rockets and strafing passes, completely destroying it and denying hostile forces a main supply artery. The professional competence, aerial skill and devotion to duty displayed by Captain Haerter reflect great credit upon himself and upheld the highest traditions of the United States Air Force.