AWARDED DFC: 1
CONFLICT/SPACE FLIGHT/EVENT:  -
MODEL:  -

Citation:  1.) The President of the United States takes great pleasure in presenting the Distinguished Flying Cross to Lieutenant (junior grade) Alfred L. Cope, Jr., for heroism and extraordinary achievement in aerial flight as Aircraft Commander of an armed helicopter, while attached to and serving with Helicopter Attack (Light) Squadron Three, Detachment Two, during attack missions on 18 November 1967 in the Rung Sat Special Zone, Republic of Vietnam. When a large U.S. merchant ship received 23 Viet Cong recoiless rifle hits, as it steamed through the Long Tau shipping channel enroute to Saigon, Lieutenant (junior grade) Cope was instrumental in the execution of the most significant and successful counter offensive operation conducted in the Rung Sat Special Zone during 1967. Operating with Navy PBR's and Army assault helicopters, Lieutenant (junior grade) Cope led his crew in the delivery of 27 rocket and machine gun attacks on a heavily armed Viet Cong ambush of over 40 personnel. Despite intense enemy automatic weapons fire, he further escorted and assisted in the planning of a rapid insertion of Vietnamese Commandos into the ambush zone, discovered and destroyed four enemy sampans, provided extremely accurate close air support for the friendly ground forces and escorted a combat damaged Army helicopter to a safe landing site. Lieutenant (junior grade) Cope's outstanding airmanship, aggressivesness, and courage in the face of enemy fire were in keeping with the highest traidtions of the United States Naval Service.