AWARDED DFC: 2
CONFLICT/SPACE FLIGHT/EVENT:  Vietnam
MODEL:  F-4E

Citation:  1.) The President of the United States takes great pleasure in presenting the Distinguished Flying Cross to Captain Hipolito T. Gomez distinguished himself by for extraordinary achievement while participating in aerial flight as a Weapons System Officer over Southeast Asia on 10 October 1970. On that date, Captain Gomez's aircraft attacked a hostile supply storage area and gun emplacement in one of the most highly defended areas of Southeast Asia. Despite intense and accurate hostile ground fire and adverse weather conditions due to smoke and haze and a low layer of drifting clouds, Captain Gomez attacked and destroyed the storage site and silenced a gun position. This act severely hampered the opposing force's logistical and air defense capability. The professional competence, aerial skill, and devotion to duty displayed by Captain Gomez reflect great credit upon himself and the United States Air Force.

2.) The President of the United States takes great pleasure in presenting the Distinguished Flying Cross to Captain Hipolito T. Gomez for extraordinary achievement while participating in aerial flight as an F-4E Weapons Systems Operator over Southeast Asia on 5 July 1971. On that date, Captain Gomez led a flight of two F-4E fighter-bomber aircraft against a well-defended hostile troop concentration. Despite adverse weather, mountainous terrain, intense ground fire directed at his aircraft, and the close proximity of friendly troops, Captain Gomez unhesitatingly attacked the force and his precise bombing resulted in its complete destruction. The professional competence, aerial skill, and devotion to duty displayed by Captain Gomez reflect great credit upon himself and the United States Air Force.