The President of the United States of America, authorized by Act of Congress, July 2, 1926, takes pride in presenting a Bronze Oak Leaf Cluster in lieu of a Second Award of the Distinguished Flying Cross with Combat “V” (Posthumously) to Major Robert Granthan Lapham (AFSN: 0-16173573), United States Air Force, for heroism while participating in aerial flight as an A-1E Pilot of the 602d Fighter Squadron, 14th Air Commando Wing, in Southeast Asia on 29 December 1967. On that date, Major Lapham was flying number two aircraft in a flight of two A-1E Skyraiders in support of friendly ground troops pinned down by a well-entrenched, numerically superior hostile force. Despite intense ground fire, Major Lapham made repeated low level, devastating attacks against the entrenched gun positions, delivering his ordnance with pinpoint accuracy, killing 25 hostile troops and permitting the safe evacuation of the friendly team. The outstanding heroism and selfless devotion to duty displayed by Major Lapham 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 pride in presenting the Distinguished Flying Cross (Posthumously) to Major Robert Granthan Lapham (AFSN: 0-16173573), United States Air Force, for extraordinary achievement while participating in aerial flight as an A-1E Pilot of the 602d Fighter Squadron, 14th Air Commando Wing, in Southeast Asia on 6 October 1967. On that date, Major Lapham participated in a successful emergency extraction of a friendly team which had become surrounded and was in immediate danger of being overrun. Major Lapham delivered all his ordnance on target, accounting for many hostile casualties and allowing the entrapped team to be rescued, without injury. The professional competence, aerial skill and devotion to duty displayed by Major Lapham 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 pride in presenting a Second Bronze Oak Leaf Cluster in lieu of a Third Award of the Distinguished Flying Cross with Combat “V” (Posthumously) to Major Robert Granthan Lapham (AFSN: 0-16173573), United States Air Force, for heroism while participating in aerial flight as an A-1E Pilot of the 602d Fighter Squadron, 14th Air Commando Wing, in Southeast Asia on 15 January 1968. On that date, Major Lapham led his flight of two A-1E Skyraiders against a vital storage area. Despite intense, accurate ground fire from hostile forces, which inflicted sixteen damaging hits on his aircraft, Major Lapham, with unwavering calmness and courage, made repeated attacks against the hostile positions, silencing the ground fire and completely destroying the target. The outstanding heroism and selfless devotion to duty displayed by Major Lapham reflect great credit upon himself and upheld the highest traditions of the United States Air Force.