Awards and Recommendations for the
Distinguished Flying Cross (DFC),
As Known
According to Annual Unit History files obtained from the National Archives, there were 90 awards of the Distinguished Flying Cross to members of the 220th Aviation Company—at least one recipient earned the award while flying as a crew member aboard company aircraft—during the period July 1965 through December 1971. We found that the noting of the DFC award in the 220th Aviation Company Unit History files is varied as Awarded, Recommended, Received, Presented or Earned—as extracted from the Unit History Files. The listing below is what we currently know "for sure" as of 07/05/12 (we count over 70 possible awards, plus a few others which we have learned about that were not noted in the Unit History Files). We can use the help of anyone who has copies of his or other´s orders or citations that might be shared to make this special noting or our DFC awards among our 220th Catkillers. You can view actual general orders and/or citation, if the award is highlighted in blue.
Unit History Records:
| 18 Nov 1965 | William D. Welch | Awarded | Action near Hup Duc |
| 20 Nov 1965 | David K. Rogers | Recommended | Action near Hue |
| 3 Jan 1966 | William E. Everett | Recommended | Action near QuangNgai |
| 3 Jan 1966 | Charles R. Welsh | Recommended | Action near QuangNgai |
| 5 Jan 1966 | Charles L. "Woody" Woodhurst | Recommended | Action in Nam Hoa Valley near Hue |
| 22 Jan 1966 | Thomas E. Batten | Recommended | Action near Quang Ngai |
| 14 Feb 1966 | Arnold J. Roebuck | Recommended | Action near Quang Ngai |
| 22 Deb 1966 | Benjamin C. Hartman | Recommended | Action at Binh Long Bridge near Da Nang |
| 23 Feb 1966 | Charles R. Welsh | Recommended | Action at My Hung near Quang Ngai(2nd Award) Was apparently down-graded to an Air Medal w/"V" device |
| 26 Feb 1966 | Melvin L. Davis | Awarded | Action at Ba Long Valley near Hue |
| 27 Feb 1966 | Charles L. Woodhurst | Recommended | Action near Hue (2nd Award) |
| 9 March 1966 | Ira W. Misenheimer | Recommended | Action at A Shau |
| 10 March 1966 | Thomas E. Murray | Recommended | Action at A Shau |
| 11 March 1966 | David K. Rogers | Recommended | Action at A Shau (2nd Award) |
| 11 March 1966 | Charles L. Woodhurst | Recommended | Action at A Shau (3rd Award). Believed to have been upgraded to the Silver Star. |
| 11 March 1966 | Donald L. Johnson | Recommended | Action at A Shau rec'd 21 Aug 1966 |
| 11 March 1966 | James M. Morris | Recommended | Action at A Shau |
| 11 March 1966 | Ira W. Misenheimer | Recommended | Action at A Shau (Not noted as a 2nd Award) |
| 12 March 1966 | Robert H. Teer | Recommended | Action at A Shau |
| 20 March 1966 | James A. Harris | Recommended | Action at La Van near Hue |
| 21 March 1966 | Ulysses Harrison | Recommended | Action near Quang Ngai |
| 27 March 1966 | William J. Amberger | Recommended | Action at Thanh Hoi near Hue |
| 27 March 1966 | James A. Harris | Recommended | Action at Thanh Hoi near Hue (2nd Award) |
| 12 May 1966 | Thomas E. Murray | Recommended | Action at Giao Thuy near Hue (2nd Award) |
| 12 May 1966 | Donnell L. Medley (special mention award) | US Navy Commendation w/V Device | Action near Da Nang (see Lost Patrol, April 2016 issue of VIETNAM Magazine) |
| 13 June 1966 | Donald L. Johnson | Recommended | Action near Da Nang (2nd Award) |
| 13 Jun 1966 | Donnell L. Medley | Navy Awarded | Action near Da Nang, awarded 16 July 1966 |
| 4 July 1966 | Norman S. MacPhee | Navy Awarded | Action near Da Nang, awarded 23 January 1967 |
| 19 Sep 1966 | David K. Rogers | Recommended | Action at A Shau(Recommended for Distinguished Service Cross at the Battle of A Shau—No record—May have been a “make up” award) [3rd Award?] |
| 16 Dec 1966 | Richard W. Johnson | Awarded | Action in DMZ area on 28 Aug 1966 (Operation Hastings or Prarie I?) |
| 3 March 1967 | Kenneth E. Trent | Awarded | Action, Operation Praire II, Con Thien, 3 March 1967 |
| 3 March 1967 | Charles Joseph Goode, Jr., USMC | Awarded (USMC) | Action, Operation Praire II, Con Thien, 3 March 1967 |
| 23 Aug 1967 | Richard DeMarchie | Awarded | Action near Da Nang on 9 April 1967 |
| 27 Sept 1967 | Lloyd H. Morgan | Awarded | Action near Phu Bai on 27 Sept 67 – WIA (Not noted in unit history files) |
| 3 Oct 1967 | Charles L. (Larry) Deibert | Awarded | Orders dated 6 Aug 1967: Action near Quang Ngai on 24 April 1967 (In Oct, Larry was assigned to the 4th Plat at Dong Ha) |
| 3 Oct 1967 | Louis F. Keeven | Awarded | Action near Tam Ky on (?) [In Oct, Louis was with the 4th Plat at Dong Ha] |
| 19 Oct 1967 | Larry (Bob) Freck | Received | Action in DMZ on 10 July 1967 |
| 26 Oct 1967 | Charles L. (Larry) Deibert | Awarded | (Awarded 21 Feb 68) Action near Con Thien (Not in unit history files) |
| 18 Dec 1967 | John Holihan | Received | Action in DMZ on 2 July 1967 |
| 30 Dec 1967 | Richard W. Johnson | Received | Action in DMZ on 6 July 1967 (2nd Award) |
| 14 Feb 1968 | John H. Billings | Presented | Action in Battle of Hue |
| 22 Feb 1968 | Terance M. Bozarth | Posthumous Recommendation | Action in Battle of Hue (upgraded to Silver Star) |
| 24 Jan 1968 | Hardy Z. (Zach) Bogue | Awarded | Action in DMZ (Not in unit history files) |
| 27 March 1968 | Harold L. Vail | Awarded 11 August 1968 | Action on 27 March |
| 31 March 68 | Gary H. O´Shields | Awarded | Action in Battle of Hue on 14 Feb 1968 |
| 10 June 1968 | Michael Sharkey | Awarded | Action in DMZ |
| 12 June 1968 | David Ohare | Awarded | Action in DMZ on 6 Sep 1967 (Not in unit history files |
| July 1968 | Gary H. O´Shields | Awarded | Action in May 1968 (2nd Award; not in unit history files) |
| 23 July 1968 | Donald S. Pepe | Awarded | action 24 March 1968, near Camp Carroll |
| 8 Aug 1968 | Robert (Bob) Cortner | Awarded | Unknown |
| 14 Sep 1968 | Raymond G. Caryl | Awarded | Action near DMZ on 10 May 68 (Not in unit history files) |
| 9 Oct 1968 | John Herring | Awarded | Action in Operation Somerset Plain in A Shau Valley on 8 Aug 1968 |
| 4 Nov 1968 | Robert J. (Bob) LaFerriere | Awarded | Action in Operation Somerset Plain in A Shau Valley on 8 Aug 1968 |
| 15 Nov 1968 | Edgar D. (Doc) Clement | Awarded | Action near the DMZ on 16 Aug 1968 (Not in unit history files) |
| 15 Nov 1968 | Donald S. Pepe | Awarded | action 26 May 68, 1OLC, Marine support, DMZ |
| 9 Jan 1969 | Donald S. Pepe | Awarded | action 21 July 68, 2OLC, DMZ |
| 11 Feb 1969 | Sargeant B. Means | Received | Action in Operation Dewey Canyon |
| 12 Feb 1969 | William C. Hooper | Awarded | Action near FSB Cunningham |
| 12 Feb 1969 | Keith B. Klett | Earned | Spoiled an ambush |
| 2 March 1969 | Clyde R. Trathowen, USMC | Awarded | Action in the DMZ |
| 16 May 1969 | Charles W. (Bud) Bruton, Jr. | Awarded | Action North of the DMZ during 3—7 July 1968 in Operation Thor (Not in unit history files) |
| 16 May 1969 | Edgar D. (Doc) Clement | Awarded | Action North of the DMZ during 3—7 July 1968 in Operation Thor (2nd Award) (Not in unit history files) |
| 16 May 1969 | John W. Herring | Awarded | Action North of the DMZ during 3—7 July 1968 in Operation Thor (2nd Award) (Not in unit history files) |
| 16 May 1968 | Kenneth T. Keltner | Awarded | action 3–7 July 68, Operation Thor |
| 16 May 1968 | Donald S. Pepe | Awarded | action 3–7 July 68, 3OLC, Operation Thor |
| 5 June 1969 | Leonard W. Bumgardner | Awarded | Destroyed two 122mm rocket sites |
| 5 June 1969 | Sargeant B. Means | Received | Destroyed a 122mm rocket site |
| 17 June 1969 | Charles S. Finch | Received | Awarded 29 April 1971 |
| 12 Nov 1969 | Robert C. Arrington | Recommended | (Awarded 13 Mar 70) Action near Con Thien |
| 17 Feb 1970 | Charles R. Dudek | Earned | Unknown |
| 20 Feb 1970 | Scott R. Burke | Earned | Unknown |
| 22 Feb 1970 | Glenn D. Stewart | Awarded | Action near Quang Tri (Awarded on 4 May 1970) Not in unit history files. |
| 25 Feb 1970 | John S. Hillman | Earned | Unknown. 2nd Award—No noting of 1st Award (Has 3 Awards) |
| 25 Feb 1970 | Glenn D. Stewart | Awarded | Action in western DMZ (2nd Award on 21 July 1970). Not in unit history file. |
| 25 Feb 1970 | Claude N. (Pete) Blevins | Awarded | Action in western DMZ |
| 13 March 1970 | Robert C. Arrington | Awarded | Action near Con Thien on 12 Nov 1969 (Not in unit history files) |
| 4 April 1970 | Robert E. (Bob) Kilduff | Awarded: Certificate | Action in DMZ, against a Bn–size enemy force |
| 25 May 1970 | Charles R. Dudek | Earned | Unknown. 2nd Award |
| 26 June 1970 | Larrie J. Landersheim | Awarded | Posthumous—None-crewmember loss near Khe Sanh |
| 18 July 1970 | Robert McComiskie | Earned | Unknown |
| 20 Aug 1970 | Lee R. Peters | Awarded | Posthumous |
| 31 Jan 1971 | Charles R. Dudek | Awarded; Citation | Action at FSB Ripcord during 11—23 July 1970. 3rd Award. |
| 31 Jan 1971 | Robert McComiskie | Awarded; Citation | Action at FSB Ripcord during 11—23 July 1970, 2nd Award |
| 31 Jan 1971 | Thomas J. Harvey | Awarded; Citation | Action at FSB Ripcord during 11—23 July 1970 |
| 31 Jan 1971 | Thomas E. Clark | Awarded; Citation | Action at FSB Ripcord during 11—23 July 1970 |
| 31 Jan 1971 | Richard J. Thorstad | Awarded; Citation | Action at FSB Ripcord during 11—23 July 1970 |
| 31 Jan 1971 | Daryl V. Wesley | Awarded; Citation | Action at FSB Ripcord during 11—23 July 1970 |
| 31 Jan 1971 | Alfred L. Paulsen | Awarded; Citation | Action at FSB Ripcord during 11—23 July 1970 |
| 31 Jan 1971 | Louis B. Trevathan | Awarded; Citation | Action at FSB Ripcord during 11—23 July 1970 |
| 31 Jan 1971 | Wade H. Godfrey | Awarded; Citation | Action at FSB Ripcord during 11—23 July 1970 |
| 31 Jan 1971 | Gerald A. DiGrezio | Awarded; Citation | Action at FSB Ripcord during 11—23 July 1970 |
| 13 Feb 1971 | Richard Wright | Earned | Unknown; possibly landed a badly damaged acft at Khe Sanh |
| 20 March 1971 | Paul Smith | Earned | Unknown; 2nd Award—no noting of 1st Award in history files (see list below for orders and citations). |
| 22 March 1971 | James Gaunt | Earned | Unknown |
| 4 June 1971 | Jack Zody | Earned | Unknown |
Awards of DFC as noted from other sources:
| 1966 | Charles Welsh | 1 Award is noted in 2010 USMA Register of Graduates: Appears to be one of the two recommended. The "other" appears to have been down-graded to an Air Medal w/"V" |
| 13 Jun 66 | Donnell L. Medley | Awarded by the Secretary of the Navy, Paul H. Nitze (Signed), For the President, with Citation (Not in unit history files) |
| 1967 | Thomas Murray | 3 Awards are noted in 2010 USMA Register of Graduates: Appears that all three recommended were awarded |
| 1967 | George Woods | 1 Award is noted in 2010 USMA Register of Graduates: Per phone conversation the award was for the night evacuation of the 4th Platoon at Doing Ha (awarded after his departure). Not noted in unit history files. certificate |
| 27 Sep 1967 | Lloyd Morgan | Learned that he was awarded the DFC for the mission that he was on when he was wounded (email to Don Ricks). Not noted in unit history files |
| 26 Oct 1967 | Larry Deibert | Action near Con Thien: From Larry during a telephone conversation on 09/27/11 with a copy of orders via email. Not noted in the unit history files |
| July 1968 | Gary H. O´Shields | Action in May 1968 – From News Article and Photo and Entry in Paragraph 21, Awards and Decorations, Officer Personnel File (Not noted in the unit history files) |
| Jul & Aug 1968 | Edgar D. (Doc) Clement | Orders for 1st and 2nd Awards and copy of DD Form 214 provided by Doc (Not in the unit history files) |
| 14 Sep 1968 | Raymond G. Caryl | Action near DMZ on 10 May 1968 (Not in the unit history files) |
| 27 April 1969 | Jack Bentley | Citation(Not in the unit history files) DD 214 provided by Jack |
| 16 May 1969 | Charles W. (Bud) Bruton, Jr. | Action North of DMZ in Operation Thor during 3-7 Jul 68 (Not noted in the unit history files) (Copy of orders provided by Bud) |
| 16 May 69 | John W. Herring | Action North of DMZ in Operation Thor during 3-7 Jul 68 (Not noted in the unit history files) (Copy of orders provided by John) |
| June 1969 | Quinton D. "Andy" Anderson | Action near Khe San 13 Dec 1968 (Not in the unit history files) DD 214 provided by Andy. Awarded issued June 1969, at Ft. Bliss |
| 19 June 1969 | William W. "Bill" Norton 108th Arty, Sundowner Whiskey |
Photograph of Bill Norton (AO), Len Bumgardner, Don Pepe and Sarge Means – All wearing DFCs – Obviously after a presentation of the awards – Possibly also for Operation Thor (Photo in Archived CATCOM files) |
| 1969 | Roger Bounds | Photograph of the presentation of the award in MAJ Ed Miler’s booklet. Not noted in any unit history. (This award is also probably for Operation Thor – that is MG Burdette, CG 1st Aviation Brigade, doing the pinning in the photo.) |
| 1969 | Donald S. Pepe | Photograph of Bill Norton (AO), Len Bumgardner, Don Pepe and Sarge Means – All wearing DFCs – Obviously after a presentation of the awards – Possibly also for Operation Thor (Photo in Archived CATCOM files) |
| 1970 | Paul H. Smith | For Heroism while participating in aerial flight within the DMZ on 26 July 1970, General Order 073, Hqs, 1st Aviation Brigade, dated 4 February 1971, Orders and citation attached and provided by Paul Smith. Orders:Citation: |
| 1971 | Paul H. Smith | For Heroism while participating in aerial flight at Khe Sanh Airfield on 20 March 1971, 1st OLC, General Order 4178, Hqs, Ist Aviation Brigade, dated 21 May 1971. Orders and citation attched and provided by Paul Smith. Orders:Citation: |
NOTE: We would like to believe that we can assume that any notation of an award that was Awarded, Presented or Received has been "completed". However, we hope to be able to locate some additional information for Earned and Recommended awards. We feel sure that some Earned and Recommended awards were sadly "lost in the paper shuffle" or were Presented, Received or otherwise Awarded at a later date after pilots departed the 220th. We can use the help of any pilot who has a copy of orders and/or a citation for an award which he might be willing to share with us for this page.
There are obviously some missing awards, since we also undoubtedly have a number of awards to our pilots who were either awarded, recommended for, earned, presented or received the DFC (or DFCs) that were never noted in the unit history Files. We would like to give credit where it is due for this prestigious flying award to any aviator or crew member—and more especially so to any of our own Catkillers. We also have the noting of several Air Medals w/"V" and the Army Commendation Medal w/"V" device, and the Vietnamese Cross of Gallantry as well, for heroism by our 220th aviators.
Thank you to those who provided information for the update of this DFC page. Hopefully, we will receive more documentation such as this for our unit history.
