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 Second Lieutenant (Armor) Jim E. Moody (ASN: 0-5322140), United States Army, for heroism while participating in aerial flight . Second Lieutenant Moody distinguished himself by exceptionally valorous actions on 27 August 1965 while serving as a pilot in the wing-ship of a light fire team supporting a search and destroy operation in the vicinity of Vi Thanh, Republic of Vietnam. Second Lieutenant Moody’s fire team, upon arriving in the operational area, was contacted by the U.S. senior advisor to escort troop lifts into the area. The Vietnamese unit had engaged the Viet Cong and heavy losses were inflicted on both sides. While escorting the troop lift helicopters into the specified landing zone, the flight came under intense automatic weapons fire. Disregarding the intense amount of fire and the numerous hits his aircraft had already received, Second Lieutenant Moody flew directly in front of the heliborne troop flight directing a constant stream of fire on the Viet Cong positions. During the course of action, Second Lieutenant Moody was contacted to provide close air support for besieged ground troops. Even though his aircraft had taken many hits, some being in vital systems, he went on firing passes directing intense fire on the hostile positions. Because of the close proximity of the ground troops to the Viet Cong positions and the great need for pin point accuracy, Second Lieutenant Moody waited until he was within one hundred and fifty meters before firing his rockets. After numerous firing passes he had to depart the area because of no armament with which to assist the ground troops and the heavy damage to his helicopter. The courage, professionalism, and devotion to duty displayed by Second Lieutenant Moody were in keeping with the highest traditions of the military service and reflect great credit upon himself, his unit and the United States Army.