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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 Patrick Gibson McAdoo (AFSN: FR-78794), United States Air Force, for gallantry in action while engaged in military operations involving conflict with an armed hostile force as an A-37 Pilot of the 604th Special Operations Squadron, Bien Hoa Air Base, South Vietnam, in action near Saigon, Republic of Vietnam, on 8 May 1968. On that date, Captain McAdoo was diverted from a pre-planned mission to provide close air support to elements of the United States Army’s 9th Infantry Division which had encountered heavy resistance in their push to drive a large hostile force from the southern part of Saigon. With the hostile force located in heavily fortified buildings and structures near the Kimh Doi Canal, Captain McAdoo was cleared to attack the hostile positions to suppress the intense fire and enable the United States forces to regain the initiative. With complete disregard for the intense hostile ground fire continually directed at his aircraft on each attack, Captain McAdoo delivered his ordnance with unerring precision on the hostile forces. His exceptional aerial skill and complete disregard for personal safety resulted in heavy damage to the hostile forces and was directly responsible for enabling the 9th Infantry Division to clear the entire area of hostile forces. By his gallantry and devotion to duty, Captain McAdoo has reflected great credit upon himself and upheld the highest traditions of the United States Air Force.

Awards Received

  • Distinguished Flying Cross

    Service:

    United States Air Force

    Rank:

    Captain

    Batallion:

    604th Special Operations Squadron

    Division:

    Pleiku Air Base, South Vietnam

    Action Date:

    February 4, 1968
    Headquarters, 7th Air Force, Special Orders G-2658 (August 27, 1968)

    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 Patrick Gibson McAdoo (AFSN: FR-78794), United States Air Force, for extraordinary achievement while participating in aerial flight as an A-37 Pilot of the 604th Special Operations Squadron, Pleiku Air Base, South Vietnam, in action over the city of Hue, Republic of Vietnam, on 4 February 1968. On that date, Captain McAdoo was scrambled from the alert facility at Pleiku Air Base to provide close air support to overwhelmingly outnumbered friendly forces engaged in heavy contact with hostile forces who were trying to overrun the city of Hue. Throughout his attacks in support of the beleaguered position, he delivered his ordnance with pinpoint accuracy despite the low ceiling and haze which blanketed the target area, thus saving numerous friendly defenders’ lives. Selflessly disregarding the intense fire continually directed at his aircraft, he made pass after pass on the hostile positions using only low angle, low altitude deliveries which, although required for such extreme accuracy, placed him constantly within the lethal hostile ground fire. The professional competence, aerial skill and devotion to duty displayed by Captain McAdoo reflect great credit upon himself and upheld the highest traditions of the United States Air Force.