AWARDED DFC: 3
CONFLICT/SPACE FLIGHT/EVENT:  Vietnam
MODEL:  AH-1G

Citation:  1.) The President of the United States takes great pleasure in presenting the Distinguished Flying Cross to Captain Ronald E. Gray for heroism while participating in aerial flight. Captain Gray distinguished himself by exceptionally valorous actions on 29 March 1966 while serving as Fire Team Leader providing reconnaissance, overhead cover, and escort for a Vietnamese force near Cu Chi, Republic of Vietnam. Early in the day, the friendly ground force made contact with a large Viet Cong force and called for air strikes. After the strikes, Captain Gray conducted a damage assessment mission over the area but was forced to return to the staging area when his tail rotor was hit by hostile anti-aircraft fire. At dusk, Captain Gray and his fire team successfully escorted a resupply aircraft into the area. While departing the landing zone, Captain Gray's wingman was hit by hostile fire. Unhesitatingly, Captain Gray executed a frontal assault and silenced these Viet Cong positions. He then escorted the aircraft out of the area. Later, he again volunteered to escort a recovery aircraft into the area which was to extract a downed helicopter. Dauntlessly, Captain Gray decoyed the intense hostile fire from the recovery aircraft, as it successfully performed its mission. During the course of action, he was painfully wounded by a burst of hostile machine gun fire. Despite this, Captain Gray remained over the area, rendering suppressive fire upon the insurgents until all aircraft in the landing zone safely departed the hostile area. Captain Gray's heroic actions and exceptional flying ability were in keeping with highest traditions of the military service and reflect great credit upon himself, his unit, and the United States Army.

2.) The President of the United States takes great pleasure in presenting the Distinguished Flying Cross to Major Ronald E. Gray for heroism while participating in aerial flight evidenced by voluntary actions, above and beyond the call of duty. Major Gray distinguished himself while serving as Platoon Commander and Fire Team Leader of the AH-1G helicopters of the First Combat Operational Battalion. He was summoned to assist in extracting friendly forces who were under intense hostile fire. He repeatedly led his fire team on devastating attacks against the enemy's positions. His exacting delivery of rocket and machine gun fire in close proximity to the friendly forces on the ground forced the enemy to withdraw and provided for the extraction of the friendly forces who were in danger of being overrun by the enemy. As a result, his fire team received credit for a minimum of sixty-eight enemy dead and three extractions of friendly forces from enemy-held positions. Through his highly accurate and devastating fire, his outstanding flying ability and devotion to duty, those extractions were completely successful. His actions were in keeping with the highest traditions of the military service and reflect great credit upon himself, his unit, and the United States Army.

3.) The President of the United States takes great pleasure in presenting the Distinguished Flying Cross to Major Ronald E. Gray for heroism while participating in aerial flight evidenced by voluntary actions above and beyond the call of duty. Major Gray distinguished himself by exceptionally valorous actions while serving as Platoon Commander of an AH-1G armed helicopter platoon. Major Gray scrambled a fire team to the Phu Loi-Cu Chi area to assist a friendly unit in heavy contact with a superior enemy force. He initiated daring attacks on enemy positions by his fire team, despite intense enemy rocket and machine gun fire. Under his brilliant leadership, they destroyed two anti-aircraft positions, numerous automatic weapons positions and one hundred of the fanatical insurgents. Although his aircraft had received thirteen hits, Major Gray continued to attack the enemy positions, setting an inspirational example for his men. His personal courage and irreproachable tactics completely disrupted the enemy's plan of maneuver, thus preventing a penetration of the friendly perimeter and numerous friendly casualties. His actions were in keeping with the highest traditions of the military service and reflect great credit upon himself, his unit, and the United States Army.