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 Captain Phillip Lee Carson (AFSN: 0-3138041), United States Air Force, for extraordinary achievement while participating in aerial flight as an F-100 pilot near Tay Ninh, Republic of Vietnam, on 15 August 1968. On that date, Captain Carson scrambled from the Bien Hoa Air Base alert facility to provide close air support for a platoon of the 5th Special Forces Group, threatened with being overrun by a much larger hostile force. Although hampered by driving rain which severely restricted visibility, Captain Carson repeatedly attacked the hostile positions in a spirited defense of the friendly forces. On each pass, he braved intense anti-aircraft fire from numerous hostile automatic weapons positions. Captain Carson’s accurate ordnance delivery destroyed the hostile force, relieving the pressure against the friendly troops and saving many American lives. The professional competence, aerial skill, and devotion to duty displayed by Captain Carson reflect great credit upon himself and the United States Air Force.