AWARDED DFC: 1
CONFLICT/SPACE FLIGHT/EVENT:  Vietnam
MODEL:  F-100D

Citation:  1.) The President of the United States takes great pleasure in presenting the Distinguished Flying Cross to Captain Truman R. Torkelson for extraordinary achievement while participating in aerial flight as an F-100 Tactical Fighter Pilot near Plei Do Lim, Republic of Vietnam on 30 July 1970. On that date, Captain Torkelson scrambled from the alert facility at Phan Rang Air Base at the request of friendly forces entering a hostile forces stronghold. Disregarding his own personal safety and despite the extremely low ceiling and heavy automatic weapons ground to air fire, Captain Torkelson made repeated passes to place all his ordnance exactly on target, causing serious losses to the hostile forces, thus saving many friendly lives. The professional competence, aerial skill, and devotion to duty displayed by Captain Torkelson reflect great credit upon himself and the United States Air Force.