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 William Elbridge McDaniel, Jr. (AFSN: 14835224/3145450), United States Air Force, for extraordinary achievement while participating in aerial flight as an F-4D Aircraft Commander at Udorn Royal Thai Air Force Base, Thailand, on 21 March 1971. On that date, Captain McDaniel led a flight of two F-4D tactical fighters against a hostile bunker complex located on top of a jagged karst peak in Southeast Asia. Despite difficult target geometry, marginal visibility and intense and accurate small arms and automatic weapons fire, Captain McDaniel delivered his ordnance with precision destroying forty bunkers and an estimated 2,500 rounds of small arms with thirty secondary explosions and two secondary fires. The professional competence, aerial skill, and devotion to duty displayed by Captain McDaniel 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 lieu of a Second Award of the Distinguished Flying Cross to Captain William Elbridge McDaniel, Jr. (AFSN: 14835224/3145450), United States Air Force, for extraordinary achievement while participating in aerial flight as an F-4D Aircraft Commander at Udorn Royal Thai Air Base, Thailand, on 18 October 1970. On that date, Captain McDaniel directed a flight of two F-4D tactical fighters while acting as an F-4D “Fast Mover” Forward Air Controller against several active hostile anti-aircraft gun positions. Captain McDaniel repeatedly exposed himself to intense and highly accurate anti-aircraft fire to expose the gun positions while directing the fighter attacks. His efforts resulted in the destruction of two of the guns and damage to others. The professional competence, aerial skill, and devotion to duty displayed by Captain McDaniel reflect great credit upon himself and the United States Air Force.