AWARDED DFC: 7
CONFLICT/SPACE FLIGHT/EVENT:  Vietnam
MODEL:  Cessna O-2A

Citation:  1.) The President of the United States takes pleasure in presenting the Distinguished Flying Cross to First Lieutenant Gary L. Beard for extraordinary achievement while participating in aerial flight as a Forward Air Controller in Southeast Asia on 26 November 1970. On that date, Lt. Beard located and directed tactical aircraft against hostile vehicles moving down a major infiltration route. Despite pitch darkness, adverse weather, and intense antiaircraft artillery fire, he directed employment of aerial ordnance, destroying four trucks with their accompanied supplies. The professional competence, aerial skill, and devotion to duty displayed by Lt. Beard reflect great credit upon himself and the United States Air Force.

2.) The President of the United States takes pleasure in presenting the Distinguished Flying Cross (First Oak Leave Cluster) to First Lieutenant Gary L. Beard for extraordinary achievement while participating in aerial flight as a Forward Air Controller in Southeast Asia from 18 December 1970 to 28 December 1970. During this period, Lt. Beard directed tactical air strikes against an extremely vital storage deep in hostile territory. Despite sustained antiaircraft artillery fire, he displayed outstanding airmanship, in one of the most successful tactical air operations ever conducted in Southeast Asia. The professional competence, aerial skill, and devotion to duty displayed by Lt. Beard reflect great credit upon himself and the United States Air Force.

3.) The President of the United States takes pleasure in presenting the Distinguished Flying Cross (Second Oak Leaf Cluster) to First Lieutenant Gary L. Beard for extraordinary achievement while participating in aerial flight as a Forward Air Controller in Southeast Asia on 23 January 1971. On that date, Lt. Beard directed tactical aircraft against hostile vehicles moving down a major infiltration route and defending antiaircraft guns. Despite pitch darkness, adverse weather, and intense, sustained adverse weather, and intense, sustained antiaircraft artillery fire, he directed the employment of aerial ordnance deep into hostile territory, destroying two trucks, an antiaircraft gun and damaging a third truck. The professional competence, aerial skill, and devotion to duty displayed by Lieutenant Beard reflect great credit upon himself and the United States Air Force.

4.) The President of the United States takes pleasure in presenting the Distinguished Flying Cross (Third Oak Leaf Cluster) to First Lieutenant Gary L. Beard for extraordinary achievement while participating in aerial flight as a Forward Air Controller in Southeast Asia on 8 April 1971. On that date, Lieutenant Beard located and directed tactical aircraft against hostile vehicles on a major infiltration route. Despite intense antiaircraft artillery fire, he directed the employment of aerial ordnance destroying four trucks and damaging another. The professional competence, aerial skill, and devotion to duty displayed by Lieutenant Beard reflect great credit upon himself and the United States Air Force.

5.) The President of the United States takes pleasure in presenting the Distinguished Flying Cross (Fourth Oak Leaf Cluster) to First Lieutenant Gary L. Beard for extraordinary achievement while participating in aerial flight as a Forward Air Controller in Southeast Asia on 8 February 1971. On that date, Lieutenant Beard directed tactical aircraft against hostile vehicles and anti-aircraft guns along a major infiltration route. Despite intense antiaircraft artillery fire, he directed the destruction of four trucks and the silencing of one anti-aircraft gun. The professional competence, aerial skill, and devotion to duty displayed by Lieutenant Beard reflect great credit upon himself and the United States Air Force.

6.) The President of the United States takes pleasure in presenting the Distinguished Flying Cross (Fifth Oak Leave Cluster) to First Lieutenant Gary L. Beard for extraordinary achievement while participating in aerial flight as a Forward Air Controller in Southeast Asia 28 May 1971. On that date, Lieutenant Beard located directed tactical aircraft against hostile vehicles on a major infiltration route. Despite adverse weather, intense antiaircraft artillery fire and equipment malfunctions, he directed the employment of aerial ordnance which destroyed five trucks, silenced an anti-aircraft gun and Lieutenant Beard located directed tactical aircraft against hostile vehicles on a major infiltration route. Despite adverse weather, intense antiaircraft artillery fire and equipment malfunctions, he directed the employment of aerial ordnance which destroyed five trucks, silenced an anti-aircraft gun and damaging and caused numerous secondary explosions. The professional competence, aerial skill, and devotion to duty displayed by Lieutenant Beard reflect great credit upon himself and the United States Air Force.

7.) The President of the United States takes pleasure in presenting the Distinguished Flying Cross Sixth Oak Leave Cluster) to First Lieutenant Gary L. Beard for extraordinary achievement while participating in aerial flight as a Forward Air Controller in Southeast Asia on 8 March 1971. On that date, Lieutenant Beard was called to support a friendly force in heavy contact with a numerically superior force. Lieutenant Beard successfully directed numerous tactical air strikes against the rocket, mortar and troop positions surround this friendly force. As a result of Lieutenant Beard’s actions, several rocket and mortar positions were destroyed, and the attack on the friendly force was broken. The professional competence, aerial skill, and devotion to duty displayed by Lieutenant Beard reflect great credit upon himself and the United States Air Force.