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 Leonard Charles Ekman, United States Air Force, for extraordinary achievement while participating in aerial flight as an F-105G Pilot over Southeast Asia on 7 April 1972. On that date, Major Ekman, flying an F-105 Wile Weasel aircraft, led a strike team of three F-4E aircraft on a hunter-killer sweep of surface-to-air missile sites in an extensive target area. Major Ekman expended two anti-radiation missiles while covering the strike aircraft and placed his aircraft in a position of great danger so as to draw attention away from the strike force. The professional competence, aerial skill and devotion to duty displayed by Major Ekman 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 Bronze Oak Leaf Cluster in lieu of a Second Award of the Distinguished Flying Cross to Major Leonard Charles Ekman, United States Air Force, for extraordinary achievement while participating in aerial flight as an F-105G Pilot over Southeast Asia on 6 March 1972. On that date, Major Ekman flew through countless rounds of antiaircraft artillery fire and, ignoring the dangers posed by nearby hostile airborne interceptors, successfully inflicted heavy damage upon a ground controlled intercept radar site. Post mission evidence revealed that only Major Ekman’s superior airmanship and aggressiveness prevented an aerial engagement which a hostile interceptor that had been vectored to within ten miles of his aircraft. The professional competence, aerial skill and devotion to duty displayed by Major Ekman 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 Silver Oak Leaf Cluster in lieu of a Sixth Award of the Distinguished Flying Cross to Major Leonard Charles Ekman, 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 Ekman repeatedly engaged heavy antiaircraft 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 Ekman 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 Bronze Oak Leaf Cluster in addition to a previously awarded Silver Oak Leaf Cluster in lieu of a Seventh Award of the Distinguished Flying Cross to Major Leonard Charles Ekman, United States Air Force, for extraordinary achievement while participating in aerial flight as an F-105G Pilot over Southeast Asia on 15 September 1972. On that date, while escorting a fighter-bomber force en route to targets near Kep, North Vietnam, Major Ekman successfully attacked and destroyed several enemy surface-to-air missile sites which opposed the strike aircraft. His aggressive and courageous attacks, made in the face of a formidable array of antiaircraft missiles, artillery, and interceptor defenses, enabled the American forces to reach their targets, successfully complete their mission, and safely withdraw. The professional competence, aerial skill and devotion to duty displayed by Major Ekman 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 Fourth Bronze Oak Leaf Cluster in lieu of a Fifth Award of the Distinguished Flying Cross to Major Leonard Charles Ekman, United States Air Force, for extraordinary achievement while participating in aerial flight as an F-105 Aircraft Commander in Southeast Asia on 16 April 1972. On that date, Major Ekman displayed exceptional courage and skill while suppressing numerous surface-to-air missile and radar directed antiaircraft artillery sites which were directing attacks against a large strike force. Through Major Ekman’s efforts the target defenses were disrupted allowing a successful strike and safe return of all friendly forces. The professional competence, aerial skill and devotion to duty displayed by Major Ekman 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 9, 1918, takes pleasure in presenting a Second Bronze Oak Leaf Cluster in addition to a previously awarded Silver Oak Leaf Cluster in lieu of an Eighth Award of the Distinguished Flying Cross with Combat “V” to Major Leonard Charles Ekman, United States Air Force, for heroism while participating in aerial flight at Hanoi, North Vietnam, on 6 October 1972. On that date, Major Ekman led a hunter-killer team of F-105G and F-4B aircraft in the confirmed destruction of two of the innermost surface-to-air missile sites defending Hanoi. Disregarding the personal danger posed by continuous surface-to-air missile fire, Major Ekman precisely employed anti-radiation missiles against the firing sites, probably damaging one and suppressing several others. His ordnance exhausted, Major Ekman led simulated attacks against sites challenging the withdrawing of the strike force and the hunter-killer team, forcing them to terminate control of their missiles prior to interception of their intended targets. The outstanding heroism and selfless devotion to duty displayed by Major Ekman 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 Major Leonard Charles Ekman, United States Air Force, for heroism while participating in aerial flight as an F-105G Pilot near Hanoi, North Vietnam, on 27 June 1972. On that date, Major Ekman succeeded in neutralizing a formidable array of hostile antiaircraft artillery, surface-to-air missiles, and MiG interceptor threats in support of a large strike force attacking a strategic target. Despite great risk to his own aircraft, Major Ekman continued to engage all opposing aerial defenses in the target area until the strike force completed its mission and all aircraft had safely departed. The outstanding heroism and selfless devotion to duty displayed by Major Ekman reflect great credit upon himself and upheld the highest traditions of the United States Air Force.