AWARDED DFC: 2
CONFLICT/SPACE FLIGHT/EVENT:  Vietnam
MODEL:  UH-1H

Citation:  1.) The President of the United States takes great pleasure in presenting the Distinguished Flying Cross to First Lieutenant James A. Mann, United States Army, 128th Assault Helicopter Company, 11th Combat Aviation Battalion for heroism in aerial flight as an Aircraft Commander of a UH-1 helicopter performing a resupply mission near An Loc during Operation Junction City on 8 April 1967. After completing one of the resupply flights, Lieutenant Mann learned from a radio transmission that a friendly helicopter had been hit by hostile fire and crashed in an unsecured clearing. Immediately, Lieutenant Mann was flying to the downed aircraft’s location. Arriving at the scene, Lieutenant Mann was subject to intense hostile fire. Completely disregarding his personal safety, he braved the hostile fire and flew several low firing passes. During these passes, he directed his door gunners’ devastating machine-gun fire onto the insurgent positions until the enemy fire was silenced. Lieutenant Mann then landed in the clearing, jumped out of his aircraft and supervised the boarding of the downed aircraft’s crew members. During the ascent from the clearing, his aircraft again received a heavy barrage of insurgent small arms and automatic weapons fire. He adeptly initiated evasive maneuvers while flying out of the area and back to the base camp. Lieutenant Mann’s courageous actions were directly responsible for the successful extraction of the downed aircraft’s crew members. Lieutenant Mann’s actions are in keeping with the finest tradition 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 First Lieutenant James A. Mann, United States Army, 128th Assault Helicopter Company, 11th Combat Aviation Battalion for heroism while participating in aerial flight evidenced by voluntary actions above and beyond the call of duty. Lieutenant Mann distinguished himself on 16 July 1967, while serving as pilot of the lead helicopter in a flight of nine aircraft in support of Eagle Flights being inserted near Du Hoa, Republic of Vietnam. As the ship landed in the second landing zone, Viet Cong were waiting in ambush. The hostile force opened up with such intensive fire that one infantryman and the crew chief were seriously wounded. The aircraft was badly damaged with severed fuel and hydraulic lines in addition to many electrical circuits. The ship was nursed out of the area in an effort to land it in a safe area to transfer the wounded personnel to an undamaged aircraft. He maneuvered his ship on a course which enabled the gunner to place effective fire on the hostile force causing their retreat. Demonstrating outstand devotion to duty, he skillfully piloted the ship to a safe touchdown at Duc Hoa. His actions were in keeping with the highest tradition of the military service and reflect great credit up himself, his unit, and the United States Army.