AWARDED DFC: 1
CONFLICT/SPACE FLIGHT/EVENT:  Vietnam
MODEL:  F-100

Citation:  1.) The President of the United States takes great pleasure in presenting the Distinguished Flying Cross to First Lieutenant Noel J. Christman for extraordinary achievement while participating in aerial flight as an F-100 Pilot near Vi Tanh on December 10, 1967. On that date, Lieutenant Christman flew a mission in support of the 21st Division of the Army of the Republic of Vietnam which had been surrounded by three Viet Cong Battalions. The friendly troops were pinned down by the withering automatic weapons fire of the Viet Cong forces and were unable to either advance or withdraw. Completely disregarding the intense hostile ground fire, Lieutenant Christman made numerous low level bomb passes that were instrumental in allowing the friendly forces to regain the initiative and renew their attacks. The precise bombing of Lieutenant Christman enabled the 21st Division troops to achieve the largest single victory to date in the Delta Region. The professional competence, serial skill, and devotion to duty displayed by Lieutenant Christman reflects great credit upon himself and the Unites States Air Force.