AWARDED DFC: 5
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 Major Keith D. Heiniger for heroism while participating in aerial flight as a Forward Air Controller near Phu Cat Air Base, Republic of Vietnam on 19 August 1967. On that date, Major Heiniger controlled five flights of fighter aircraft over a four hour and fifty-minute period while being subjected to intense anti-aircraft fire. With complete disregard for his personal safety, Major Heiniger participated in seven individual rocket firing passes through the intense barrage of flak to mark the target for the fighter aircraft. The outstanding heroism and selfless devotion to duty displayed by Major Heiniger 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 Major Keith D. Heiniger for heroism while participating in aerial flight as a Forward Air Controller directing fighter strikes over North Vietnam on 28 August 1967. On that date, Major Heiniger responded to an urgent request for aid from a United States Naval vessel under heavy attack from hostile artillery. Despite intense barrages of heavy flak and, with complete disregard for his personal safety, Major Heiniger made repeated, highly accurate marking passes on the hostile gun positions to accomplish this hazardous mission. His courageous and determined actions allowed strike aircraft to devastate the artillery and permitted the Naval vessel to withdraw to safe waters. The outstanding heroism and selfless devotion to duty displayed by Major Heiniger reflect great credit upon himself and the United States Air Force.

3.) The President of the United States takes great pleasure in presenting the Distinguished Flying Cross to Major Keith D. Heiniger for heroism while participating in aerial flight as a Forward Air Controller operating over North Vietnam on 25 September 1967. On that date, Major Heiniger located four heavily camouflaged hostile field artillery positions which were actively shelling friendly forces south of the Demilitarized Zone. As a consequence of his heroic persistence and professional ability, the target was destroyed and friendly casualties reduced, an effort which required an aggregate of three hours in the hostile environment of the immediate target area. The outstanding heroism and selfless devotion to duty displayed by Major Heiniger reflect great credit upon himself and the United States Air Force.

4.) The President of the United States takes great pleasure in presenting the Distinguished Flying Cross to Major Keith D. Heiniger for heroism while participating in aerial flight as an F-100 Forward Air Controller over North Vietnam on 12 August 1967. On that date, while directing fighter operations against a hostile anti-aircraft site, Major Heiniger repeatedly dove his aircraft through intense barrages of flak to mark the target for each of several flights of tactical fighters. With complete disregard for his own safety, he maneuvered his aircraft under a low ceiling to provide ordnance impact corrections and was thus instrumental in destroying the site, which was a severe threat to friendly aircraft operating in the area. The outstanding heroism and selfless devotion to duty displayed by Major Heiniger reflect great credit upon himself and the United States Air Force.

5.) The President of the United States takes great pleasure in presenting the Distinguished Flying Cross to Major Keith D. Heiniger for heroism while participating in aerial flight as a Forward Air Controller in Southeast Asia on 7 September 1967. On that date, Major Heiniger discovered a new surface-to-air site and successfully destroyed it using tactical airpower which he directed from his unarmed O-2A aircraft. During the mission a surface-to-air missile was launched at Major Heiniger's aircraft, and he came under extremely heavy anti-aircraft fire; but he continued to remain in the target area until the missile site was destroyed. The outstanding heroism and selfless devotion to duty displayed by Major Heiniger reflect great credit upon himself and the United States Air Force.