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 Richard Eric Coe, United States Air Force, for extraordinary achievement while participating in aerial flight as an AC-119G Pilot of the 17th Special Operations Squadron, Tuy Hoa Air Base, South Vietnam, in action at Dak Seang and Dak Pek, Kon Tum Province, Republic of Vietnam, on 13 August 1970. On that date, Lieutenant Coe’s gunship was scrambled from alert to support the besieged friendly outposts that were under heavy rocket, mortar, and small arms attack. He coordinated all radio clearances while holding the precise altitude required for accurate gunship firing and illumination. His actions were instrumental in suppressing the hostile ground fire, inflicting heavy casualties upon the hostile troops, and breaking the hostile attack. The professional competence, aerial skill and devotion to duty displayed by Lieutenant Coe 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 with Combat “V” to First Lieutenant Richard Eric Coe, United States Air Force, for heroism while participating in aerial flight as an AC-119G Pilot of the 17th Special Operations Squadron, Tuy Hoa Air Base, South Vietnam, in action in Southeast Asia on 15 October 1970. On that date, while flying a night armed reconnaissance mission, Lieutenant Coe’s gunship prevented a large hostile force from overrunning a friendly village, and broke the hostile attack. Disregarding heavy automatic weapons fire on his aircraft, Lieutenant Coe maintained a steady aircraft firing platform for the pilot for over two hours. The outstanding heroism and selfless devotion to duty displayed by Lieutenant Coe 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 Second Bronze Oak Leaf Cluster in lieu of a Third Award of the Distinguished Flying Cross to Captain Richard Eric Coe, United States Air Force, for extraordinary achievement while participating in aerial flight as an F-4E Aircraft Commander of the 34th Tactical Fighter Squadron, in action over Southeast Asia on 22 January 1972. On the evening of that date despite heavy anti-aircraft fire while escorting an AC-130 gunship, Captain Coe’s repeated passes on gun sites resulted in two large secondary explosions with one 37-mm. gun destroyed and numerous sustained fires. The flak suppression efforts of Captain Coe on this date allowed the AC-130 to continue to operate in the area unhampered for the remainder of the mission. The professional competence, aerial skill and devotion to duty displayed by Captain Coe reflect great credit upon himself and upheld the highest traditions of the United States Air Force.