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 James V. Fiorelli (AFSN: FR-670201), United States Air Force, for extraordinary achievement while participating in aerial flight as an F-100 Pilot in Southeast Asia on 12 February 1967. On that date, Lieutenant Fiorelli was the wingman in a flight of two diverted from their scheduled target to attack a Viet Cong stronghold resisting the 1st Brigade, 1st Cavalry Division near Bong Song, Republic of Vietnam. Despite extremely hazardous weather conditions and intense ground fire, Lieutenant Fiorelli courageously attacked the entrenched hostile positions. Delivering his ordnance with pinpoint accuracy, in the dangerously low ceiling and visibility, Lieutenant Fiorelli destroyed the main area of resistance. With complete disregard for his own personal safety, he made numerous strafing passes on the hostile gun positions after he had delivered his primary ordnance. Remaining in the target area until he barely had enough fuel to return to his home base, Lieutenant Fiorelli demonstrated courage and professionalism of a high degree. His pinpoint ordnance deliveries and aggressive aerial skill undoubtedly saved countless friendly lives. The professional competence, aerial skill and devotion to duty displayed by Lieutenant Fiorelli 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 First Lieutenant James V. Fiorelli (AFSN: FR-670201), United States Air Force, for extraordinary achievement while participating in aerial flight as an F-100 pilot near Vinh Benh, Republic of Vietnam, on 1 February 1967. On that date, Lieutenant Fiorelli flew two missions against a heavy concentration of hostile troops and over eighty Viet Cong sampans marshalling rice in a canal. On his first mission, Lieutenant Fiorelli made numerous low altitude attacks into intense hostile thirty and fifty caliber automatic weapons fire and blocked the canal. Despite a 30 knot crosswind which made ordnance deliveries extremely difficult, the flight sank several sampans, preventing the others form escaping. He displayed outstanding judgment and tactical knowledge in electing to make numerous low-level passes over the escaping barges without first suppressing the hostile gun positions. Scrambled again just after sundown, Lieutenant Fiorelli was again called upon to attack the same target, again facing heavy ground fire while attacking several sampans and structures intact in the target area. Again, Lieutenant Fiorelli courageously made pass after pass in the face of the hostile ground fire. He delivered his weapons with the same pin-point accuracy even though he had darkness and thick smoke to contend with in addition to the strong cross wind. With complete disregard for his own personal safety, Lieutenant Fiorelli pressed home the attack, destroying significant elements and supplies of the hostile force. The professional competence, aerial skill and devotion to duty displayed by Lieutenant Fiorelli 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 to Captain James Vincent Fiorelli (AFSN: FR-670201), United States Air Force, for extraordinary achievement while participating in aerial flight as an F-100 Forward Air Controller operating over North Vietnam on 14 February 1968. On that date, Captain Fiorelli conducted a low-level search under adverse weather conditions in a heavily defended area of North Vietnam, successfully locating an active supply transshipment area. As the weather improved, Captain Fiorelli directed several flights of fighters into the area successfully marking numerous targets and insuring their destruction. After expending all of his marking ordnance, he continued to mark targets by making low passes over the area in his unarmed aircraft. The professional competence, aerial skill and devotion to duty displayed by Captain Fiorelli reflect great credit upon himself and upheld the highest traditions of the United States Air Force.