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 First Lieutenant Gerald Harry Felix (AFSN: FR-78639), United States Air Force, for extraordinary achievement while participating in aerial flight as an F-100 Pilot of the 531st Tactical Fighter Squadron, Bien Hoa Air Base, South Vietnam, in action at Song Be, Republic of Vietnam, In action near An Loc, Republic of Vietnam, on 7 August 1967. On that date, Lieutenant Felix was flying a close air support mission covering the movement of a large Army convoy south on Route 13, about 25 miles north of Saigon, when he received instructions to immediately divert to the Special Forces Camp at Thon Le Chon. En route to the camp he was informed by the Forward Air Controller that the camp was in immediate danger of being overrun by an estimated 2,000-man North Vietnamese Army regiment. Despite unusually poor weather and extremely heavy automatic weapons fire being directed at his aircraft, Lieutenant Felix made multiple attacks on the numerous hostile positions, flying through a hail of hostile bullets on each pass. These attacks, utterly devastating to the opposing forces, completely repulsed the human wave assaults on the special forces camp and saved countless friendly lives. Lieutenant Felix’s aggressive attitude and outstanding performance as an F-100 pilot was credited with saving the special forces camp from seizure by the North Vietnamese regiment. The professional competence, aerial skill and devotion to duty displayed by Lieutenant Felix reflect great credit upon himself and upheld the highest traditions of the United States Air Force.
Sponsored by:
Awards Received
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Distinguished Flying Cross
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Silver Star
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Distinguished Flying Cross
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Legion of Merit
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Distinguished Flying Cross
Service:
United States Air ForceRank:
CaptainBatallion:
531st Tactical Fighter SquadronDivision:
Bien Hoa Air Base, South VietnamAction Date:
February 2, 1968
Headquarters, 7th Air Force, Special Order G-3491 (November 15, 1968)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 with Combat “V” to Captain Gerald Harry Felix (AFSN: FR-78639), United States Air Force, for heroism while participating in aerial flight as an F-100 Pilot of the 531st Tactical Fighter Squadron, Bien Hoa Air Base, South Vietnam, in action near Long Xuyen, Republic of Vietnam, on 2 February 1968. On that date, Captain Felix supported an Army of the Republic of Vietnam unit pinned down by intense fire from a heavily fortified Viet Cong force. Contending with extremely restrictive visibility conditions and striking precariously close to friendly positions, Captain Felix suppressed all hostile fire by making numerous low-angle, low-altitude ordnance deliveries in the face of the well positioned and extremely accurate ground fire. Captain Felix’s aggressive aerial tactics, selfless determination, and high degree of courage neutralized the Viet Cong force and saved the lives of the three Vietnamese companies and their five United States Army Advisors. The outstanding heroism and selfless devotion to duty displayed by Captain Felix reflect great credit upon himself and upheld the highest traditions of the United States Air Force.
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Silver Star
Service:
United States Air ForceRank:
CaptainBatallion:
531st Tactical Fighter SquadronDivision:
Bien Hoa Air Base, South VietnamAction Date:
February 18, 1968
Headquarters, 7th Air Force, Special Order G-2037 (July 9, 1968)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 pleasure in presenting the Silver Star to Captain Gerald Harry Felix (AFSN: FR-78639), United States Air Force, for gallantry in action while engaged in military operations involving conflict with an armed hostile force as an F-100 Pilot of the 531st Tactical Fighter Squadron, Bien Hoa Air Base, South Vietnam, in action at Song Be, Republic of Vietnam, in action on 18 February 1968. On that date, at 0430 hours, Captain Felix was scrambled from the Bien Hoa alert facility to provide close air support to the friendly ground forces defending the besieged city of Song Be, which was under heavy human wave and mortar attack. Despite the intense hostile ground fire, near impossible visibility conditions, and the mountainous terrain, Captain Felix courageously pressed his attack on the hostile mortar sites, making repeated low level, low angle passes through the dense smoke from the burning city for one solid hour, delivering his ordnance with unerring accuracy. He clearly displayed exceptional gallantry by making repeated passes through the intense hostile ground fire, refusing to drop his ordnance under any other than release parameters that would insure an accurately placed bomb and the neutralization of the main Viet Cong offensive and mortar sites. His skill and heroism broke the Viet Cong offensive and relieved the friendly forces of the disastrous barrages being directed at them. By his gallantry and devotion to duty, Captain Felix has reflected great credit upon himself and upheld the highest traditions of the United States Air Force.
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Distinguished Flying Cross
Service:
United States Air ForceRank:
CaptainBatallion:
531st Tactical Fighter SquadronDivision:
Bien Hoa Air Base, South VietnamAction Date:
February 9, 1968
Headquarters, 7th Air Force, Special Order G-3505 (November 16, 1968)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 Captain Gerald Harry Felix (AFSN: FR-78639), United States Air Force, for extraordinary achievement while participating in aerial flight as an F-100 Pilot of the 531st Tactical Fighter Squadron, Bien Hoa Air Base, South Vietnam, on 9 February 1968. On that date, Captain Felix supported friendly forces under heavy ground attack by an estimated battalion of Viet Cong. Captain Felix made multiple attacks on the numerous hostile positions, flying through a hail of bullets on each pass. These attacks, utterly devastating to the opposing forces, completely repulsed the attack on the town and saved countless friendly lives. The professional competence, aerial skill and devotion to duty displayed by Captain Felix reflect great credit upon himself and upheld the highest traditions of the United States Air Force.
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Legion of Merit
Service:
United States Air ForceRank:
ColonelAction Date:
February 13, 1986 – February 29, 1988
The President of the United States of America, authorized by Act of Congress, 20 July 1942, takes pleasure in presenting the Legion of Merit to Colonel Gerald Harry Felix (AFSN: FR-78639), United States Air Force, for exceptionally meritorious conduct in the performance of outstanding services to the Government of the United States as Deputy Commander for Operations, 363d Tactical Fighter Wing, Shaw Air Force Base, South Carolina; as Commander, United States Central Command Air Forces (Forward), Riyadh, Saudi Arabia; and as Director of Special Projects, Headquarters NINTH Air Force, Shaw Air Force Base, South Carolina, from 13 February 1986 to 29 February 1988. During this period, Colonel Felix’s dynamic leadership, superb management, and outstanding dedication were key to improved readiness of Tactical Air Command’s F-16/RF-4 fleet. Further, as a result of reflagging of Kuwaiti tankers in the Persian Gulf, he was the first United States Central Command Air Forces (Forward) Commander in Southwest Asia, where he set in motion required operational procedures for employment of allocated air resources. The singularly distinctive accomplishments of Colonel Felix culminate a long and distinguished career in the service of his and reflect the highest credit upon himself and the United States Air Force.