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 addition to a previously awarded Silver Oak Leaf Cluster in lieu of a Ninth Award of the Distinguished Flying Cross to Major Chester Alden Walborn (AFSN: FR-27154), United States Air Force, for extraordinary achievement while participating in aerial flight on 31 January 1968. On that date, he piloted his aircraft over an extremely hostile area and accurately marked strategic targets while subjected to a devastating influx of small arms and automatic weapons fire. He coordinated fighter strikes with such accuracy that 60 aggressors were killed and the government troops were able to recapture the entire city of Soc Trang. The professional competence, aerial skill, and devotion to duty displayed by Major Walborn reflect great credit upon himself and 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 Major Chester Alden Walborn (AFSN: FR-27154), United States Air Force, for heroism while participating in aerial flight as a Forward Air Controller in An Xuyen Province, Republic of Vietnam on 18 May 1967. On that date, Major Walborn flew his O-1 to conduct immediate close air support at night against a large hostile force heavily defended by automatic weapons. His efforts caused the complete destruction of a major supply base and produced a major psychological defeat as it wrecked a hostile celebration. With complete disregard for his own safety he remained under the illuminating flares, drawing fire to his aircraft and away from the fighters. By pinpointing positions in this manner, eighteen automatic weapons positions were silenced. The outstanding heroism and selfless devotion to duty displayed by Major Walborn reflect great credit upon himself and 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 Chester Alden Walborn (AFSN: FR-27154), United States Air Force, for heroism while participating in aerial flight as a Forward Air Controller in An Xuyen Province, Republic of Vietnam on 18 June 1967. On that date Major Walborn flew his O-1 to conduct immediate close air support against a hostile battalion in response to an attack against a friendly outpost. After four helicopters had been hit by automatic weapons fire and four Americans wounded, Major Walborn located the hostile unit and controlled two flights of fighters in air attacks against the force with devastating effect. Without regard for his own safety, Major Walborn flew across the target area drawing fire to locate hostile strong points. By pinpointing targets in this manner, the hostile attack was bridled and broken with heavy casualties inflicted on the hostile force. The outstanding heroism and selfless devotion to duty displayed by Major Walborn reflect great credit upon himself and 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 with Combat “V” to Major Chester Alden Walborn (AFSN: FR-27154), United States Air Force, for heroism while participating in aerial flight as a Forward Air Controller in An Xuyen Province, Republic of Vietnam on 25 November 1967. On that date a Forward Air Controller was shot down at an isolated outpost in the Nam Can Forest, deep in hostile controlled territory. Major Walborn planned, coordinated and controlled the rescue of the downed crew utilizing a heavy section of UH-1st Division, A.E.F. gunships and two H-43 rescue aircraft. With complete disregard for his own safety, Major Walborn held below a 1,200 foot ceiling and over the strongpoints of the hostile battalion intentionally drawing ground fire from the rescue aircraft while he directed the elements involved. The outstanding heroism and selfless devotion to duty displayed by Major Walborn reflect great credit upon himself and 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 with Combat “V” to Major Chester Alden Walborn (AFSN: FR-27154), United States Air Force, for heroism while participating in aerial flight as a Forward Air Controller in An Xuyen Province, Republic of Vietnam on 25 April 1967. On that date Major Walborn located a hostile ground force and supply concentration. Although the weather was deteriorating rapidly, night was falling and ground fire was intense from both small arms and automatic weapons, Major Walborn controlled fighters until the concentration had been saturated with ordnance. With complete disregard for his own safety, Major Walborn repeatedly flew over the area to locate and mark strong points until automatic weapons fire was suppressed and heavy casualties inflicted on the hostiles. The outstanding heroism and selfless devotion to duty displayed by Major Walborn reflect great credit upon himself and 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 Major Chester Alden Walborn (AFSN: FR-27154), United States Air Force, for extraordinary achievement while participating in aerial flight as a Forward Air Controller in Southeast Asia on 13 June 1967. On that date, he discovered a hostile force waiting to ambush a friendly platoon. Although ground fire was intense from automatic weapons and small arms Major Walborn repeatedly exposed himself to conduct combat support missions until the unfriendly forces had been mauled. Two secondary explosions were triggered in the target area. This success was a direct result of Major Walborn’s aggressiveness, courage and aerial skill. The professional competence, aerial skill, and devotion to duty displayed by Major Walborn reflect great credit upon himself and 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 with Combat “V” to Major Chester Alden Walborn (AFSN: FR-27154), United States Air Force, for heroism while participating in aerial flight as a Forward Air Controller in Bac Lieu Province, Republic of Vietnam on 8 November 1967. On that date while he was awaiting the arrival of a flight of aircraft for a pre-planned operation against a hostile battalion, he was wounded in the leg. Knowing the wingman in the flight of fighter aircraft had a malfunctioning fuel system and that both fighter aircraft had inoperative navigation aids, Major Walborn talked the aircraft into the target area where the intense hostile ground fire was coming from and expended them on the hostile troops concentration prior to departing to seek medical attention. The outstanding heroism and selfless devotion to duty displayed by Major Walborn reflect great credit upon himself and 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 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 Chester Alden Walborn (AFSN: FR-27154), United States Air Force, for heroism while participating in aerial flight as an Air Liaison Officer and Forward Air Controller in Chung Thien Province, Republic of Vietnam from 8 December 1967 to 10 December 1967. During this period a major operation was underway by the 21st Infantry Division using ground, heliborne, mechanized and tactical air forces. The friendly unit was pinned down in overlapping fields of fire from small arms, machine guns, mortars and recoilless rifles. With complete disregard for his own safety Major Walborn spent 32 hours over the battlefield always exposed to murderous ground fire, to direct attacks against new hostile positions. The outstanding heroism and selfless devotion to duty displayed by Major Walborn reflect great credit upon himself and the United States Air Force.