AWARDED DFC: 3
CONFLICT/SPACE FLIGHT/EVENT:  Vietnam
MODEL:  F-4D

Citation:  1.) The President of the United States takes great pleasure in presenting the Distinguished Flying Cross to First Lieutenant James R. D. Lewis for extraordinary achievement while participating in aerial flight as an F-4D Aircraft Commander over Southeast Asia on 15 April 1972. On that date, Lieutenant Lewis displayed exceptional airmanship and courage while on a massive night strike against vital hostile supply, storage and communications networks in North Vietnam. Despite sophisticated, intense and highly accurate surface-to-air guided missile defenses, multiple and varied radar controlled heavy caliber anti-aircraft artillery, and the threat of numerous hostile interceptor aircraft, he delivered his ordnance on target with the extreme precision and accurate timing required to achieve the highest degree of success and safety ever enjoyed in this theater of operations. The professional competence, aerial skill, and devotion to duty displayed by Lieutenant Lewis 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 First Lieutenant James R.D. Lewis for extraordinary achievement while participating in aerial flight as an F-4D Aircraft Commander over Southeast Asia on 4 May 1972. On that date, Lieutenant Lewis displayed outstanding airmanship and courage, making repeated night strikes under flare illumination against a hostile resupply convoy infiltrating friendly positions. Despite hostile surface-to-air missiles and the high threat of anti-aircraft artillery, Lieutenant Lewis was directly responsible for the destruction of numerous heavily laden trucks and halting of the remaining convoy along the camouflaged hostile supply line. The professional competence, aerial skill, and devotion to duty displayed by Lieutenant Lewis 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 First Lieutenant James R. D. Lewis for extraordinary achievement while participating in aerial flight as an F-4D Aircraft Commander over Southeast Asia on 19 June 1972. On that date, Lieutenant Lewis displayed outstanding airmanship and courage making repeated armed reconnaissance and night attacks while directing a strike flight against a hostile and well-camouflaged truck convoy infiltrating friendly positions. Despite heavy concentrations of anti-aircraft artillery fire defending the target, he was directly responsible for destroying five heavily laden trucks, detonating two secondary explosions, igniting five sustained fires, and damaging two additional trucks. The professional competence, aerial skill, and devotion to duty displayed by Lieutenant Lewis reflect great credit upon himself and the United States Air Force.