AWARDED DFC: 1
CONFLICT/SPACE FLIGHT/EVENT:  Vietnam
MODEL:  A-4E

Citation:  1.) The President of the United States takes pleasure in presenting the Distinguished Flying Cross to First Lieutenant Robert J. Short, Jr., United States Marine Corps, for heroism and extraordinary achievement in aerial flight while serving as a Pilot with Marine Attack Squadron 311, Marine Aircraft Group Eleven, First Marine Aircraft Wing in connection with combat operations against the enemy in the Republic of Vietnam. Early on the morning of 20 October 1970, First Lieutenant Short launched from the DaNang Air Base as Wingman in a flight of two A-4 Skyhawk aircraft assigned the mission of providing close air support for two Civilian Irregular Defense Group companies which were heavily engaged in combat with elements of two North Vietnamese Army battalions in the vicinity of Thuong Due in Quang Nam Province. Arriving over the designated area, he was given a situation brief by the Forward Air Controller (Airborne) and informed that the beleaguered units were located on a plateau with their backs to a sheer drop of 2,300 feet to the valley below and were under intense hostile rocket, mortar, automatic weapons, and small arms fire from the enemy who had established positions on all three sides of the Vietnamese, thereby cutting off all avenues of escape. Despite extremely adverse weather conditions and the difficulty of maneuvering his aircraft in the darkness over the rugged terrain, he utilized the illumination from flares to commence his attack. Undaunted by heavy rains and cloud cover which obscured the mountains and the intensity of the North Vietnamese fire directed at his Skyhawk, First Lieutenant Short commenced his second approach and resolutely braved the hostile fire as he fearlessly maneuvered his aircraft on two bombing runs and a strafing run and delivered all of his ordnance upon the enemy positions with pinpoint accuracy. As a result of his and a subsequent flight's devastating attacks, the enemy fire was silenced. First Lieutenant Short's courage, superior airmanship, and unwavering devotion to duty in the face of great personal danger were instrumental in accomplishing the hazardous mission and were in keeping with the highest traditions of the Marine Corps and of the United States Naval Service.