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

Citation:  1.) The President of the United States takes great pleasure in presenting the Distinguished Flying Cross to Captain Richard E. Monroe for extraordinary achievement while participating in aerial flight as a UH-1F helicopter Aircraft Commander near Plei Djereng, Republic of Vietnam on 22 August 1967. On that date, Captain Monroe volunteered to escort an Army gunship that had an engine malfunction back to friendly territory. Enroute to a secure landing strip, the malfunctioning aircraft crashed and burned. With complete disregard for his personal safety, Captain Monroe skillfully maneuvered his helicopter to a hover near the burning wreckage and rescued the four downed crewmembers using rope ladders. The professional competence, aerial skill, and devotion to duty displayed by Captain Monroe 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 Captain Richard E. Monroe for extraordinary achievement while participating in aerial flight as a UH-1F Pilot in Southeast Asia on 23 October 1967. On that date, Captain Monroe responded to a call for help from a reconnaissance team which was surrounded and pinned down by a superior hostile force. Although tactical air support dispersed the unfriendly forces, they still were dug in near the area to be used as a landing zone. Realizing the critical situation of the ground team, which was almost completely out of ammunition, Captain Monroe elected to descend into the area of known ground fire and successfully rescue the team. The professional competence, aerial skill, and devotion to duty displayed by Captain Monroe reflect great credit upon himself and the United States Air Force.