AWARDED DFC: 5
CONFLICT/SPACE FLIGHT/EVENT:  -
MODEL:  -

Citation: Note: After WWII Spiros N. Pissanos legally changed his first and last name to Steve N. Pisanos. 1.) The President of the United States takes great pleasure in presenting the Distinguished Flying Cross to First Lieutenant Spiros N. Pissanos for extraordinary achievement while participating in aerial flight. Lieutenant Pissanos has accomplished forty fighter combat missions over enemy occupied Continental Europe and has destroyed one enemy airplane in aerial combat. The skillful and zealous manner in which Lieutenant Pissanos has sought out the enemy and destroyed him, his devotion to duty and courage under all conditions serve as an inspiration to his fellow flyers. His actions on all these occasions reflect the highest credit upon himself and the Armed Forces of the United States.

2.) The President of the United States takes great pleasure in presenting the Distinguished Flying Cross (First Oak Leaf Cluster) to First Lieutenant Spiros N. Pissanos for extraordinary achievement while participating in aerial flight. Lieutenant Pissanos has accomplished fifty fighter combat missions or the equivalent thereof, over enemy-occupied Continental Europe. The skillful and zealous manner in which Lieutenant Pissanos has sought out the enemy and engaged him in aerial combat, his devotion to duty, and courage under all conditions serve as an inspiration to his fellow flyers. His actions on all these occasions reflect the highest credit upon himself and the Armed Forces of the United States.

3.) The President of the United States takes great pleasure in presenting the Distinguished Flying Cross (Second Oak Leaf Cluster) to First Lieutenant Spiros N. Pissanos for extraordinary achievement and heroism while participating in aerial flight. Lieutenant Pissanos has accomplished the destruction of four enemy airplanes over enemy occupied Continental Europe. The skillful and zealous manner in which Lieutenant Pissanos has sought out the enemy and destroyed him, his devotion to duty and courage under all conditions serve as an inspiration to his fellow flyers. Lieutenant Pissanos's actions on all these occasions reflect the highest credit upon himself and the Armed Forces of the United States.

4.) The President of the United States takes great pleasure in presenting the Distinguished Flying Cross (Third Oak Leaf Cluster) to Captain Spiros N. Pissanos for extraordinary achievement while participating in aerial flight on 5 March 1944. As Pilot of a P-51 aircraft, Captain Pissanos displayed outstanding courage and flying skill while attacking a superior number of enemy aircraft which were opposing a bomber formation. He successfully assisted in the defeat of this attack and then continued his escort mission although his engine was not functioning properly. Captain Pissanos's devotion to duty, as evidenced by voluntary action above and beyond the call of, by his determined efforts to complete his assigned mission until he was forced to crash-land, reflects great credit upon himself and the United States Air Force.

5.) The President of the United States takes great pleasure in presenting the Distinguished Flying Cross (Fourth Oak Leaf Cluster) to Lieutenant Colonel Steve N. Pisanos for heroism while participating in aerial flight in connection with militaryoperations against an opposing armed force near Cung Son, Republic of Vietnam, on 6 December 1967. On that date, Colonel Pisanos made a tactical emergency airdrop to a besieged patrol of Special Forces personnel in danger of being overrun by a superior hostile force. After overcoming extremely adverse weather conditions and mountainous terrain to locatethe patrol, and overruling the patrol commander's warning not to attempt the drop due to hostile activity, Colonel Pisanos, in complete disregard for his personal safety, airdropped the needed supplies to the patrol. His unusual skill and determination was directly responsible for the preservation of the Special Forces unit, which was subsequently rescued. The outstanding heroism and selfless devotion to duty displayed by Colonel Pisanos reflect great credit upon himself and the United States Air Force.