AWARDED DFC: 1
CONFLICT/SPACE FLIGHT/EVENT:  Vietnam
MODEL:  C-47

Citation:  1.) The President of the United States takes great pleasure in presenting the Distinguished Flying Cross to Staff Sergeant William H. Kearney for extraordinary achievement while participating in aerial flight as a C-47 Flight Engineer in Southeast Asia on 14 November 1967. On that date, Sergeant Kearney flew a night flare illumination mission in support of a rescue attempt of a small group of friendly forces who had been stranded during a massive attack on their position. Despite poor weather and hostile ground fire, Sergeant Kearney manually dropped a large number of illuminating flares from his aircraft to keep the area laminated until a successful rescue of the unit could be accomplished. The professional competence, aerial skill and devotion to duty displayed by Sergeant Kearney reflect great credit upon himself and the United States Air Force.