AWARDED DFC: 8
CONFLICT/SPACE FLIGHT/EVENT:  Vietnam
MODEL:  AH-1G

Citation:  1.) The President of the United States takes great pleasure in presenting the Distinguished Flying Cross to Warrant Officer Ronald L. Tusi for heroism while participating in aerial flight evidenced by voluntary action, above and beyond the call of duty. Warrant Officer Tusi distinguished himself by exceptionally valorous actions while serving as Aircraft Commander of an AH-1G armed helicopter and team leader of a flight of two gunships. Working in close support with a team of light observation helicopters, he made repeated attacks on numerous fortified enemy positions in the face of heavy fire. During the course of this action, his flexible minigun turret became inoperative. In spite of this handicap, he made several low-level passes over the enemy, who had taken up fortified positions in several buildings. His accurate fire caused them to withdraw from these positions. Ordering his team to follow, Warrant Officer Tusi pursued the enemy, placing such accurate fire that none escaped. Under his leadership a total of twelve were killed, three captured, and numerous weapons and ammunition were recovered. His actions were in keeping with the highest traditions of the military service and reflect great credit upon himself, his unit, and the United States Army.

2.) The President of the United States takes great pleasure in presenting the Distinguished Flying Cross to Chief Warrant Officer Ronald L. Tusi for heroism while participating in aerial flight evidenced by voluntary action, above and beyond the call of duty. Chief Warrant Officer Tusi distinguished himself by exceptionally valorous actions while serving as team leader in a team of gunships providing cover for an infantry platoon inserted to recover the Pilot and co-Pilot of a light observation helicopter downed by enemy fire. The infantry became surrounded by two enemy companies. Realizing the necessity of an immediate extraction, he directed his gunship team against numerous fortified enemy positions. The enemy, aware of the intentions of the maneuver, concentrated extreme heavy fire against the attacking gunships. Although taking several aircraft hits, Chief Warrant Officer Tusi repeatedly flew his aircraft through the crossfire, challenging the enemy time and time again with such accurate and devastating firepower, the enemy broke contact, thereby providing the aviators and surrounded platoon time to reach the pickup zone where they were extracted with a minimum of casualties. His bravery, professionalism and leadership in the face of enemy opposition were exemplary. His actions were in keeping with the highest traditions of the military service and reflect great credit upon himself, his unit, and the United States Army.

3.) The President of the United States takes great pleasure in presenting the Distinguished Flying Cross to Chief Warrant Officer Ronald L. Tusi for heroism while participating in aerial flight evidenced by voluntary action, above and beyond the call of duty. Chief Warrant Officer Tusi distinguished himself by exceptionally valorous actions as leader of a flight of helicopter conducting a reconnaissance mission southwest of Duc Lap. After his aircraft was damaged by enemy fire and forced to return to his staging area for repairs, the relief team that continued the mission also came under fire and two light observation helicopters were downed. Four wounded aviators lay in a clearing surrounded by an enemy battalion. Monitoring their distress call, he sent his wing ship to support rescue efforts but, as that ship arrived at the contact site, it was also brought down. Although his aircraft was badly damaged, he returned to the aid of his fellow soldiers and of helicopter gunships and directed their assaults against the enemy. When he observed his wounded comrades in the middle of a clearing, he attempted to land, but intense enemy fire forced him to abort. To prevent endangering his wounded comrades with his own fire, he attacked the enemy at close range, at times engaging targets from as close as 100 meters before breaking away. After departing station to refuel and rearm, and after repairs were completed, he returned to make a second attempt to rescue one of his comrades and was again forced to abort his landing. He continued to provide support for the next five hours, during which he assisted in the insertion and extraction of an allied infantry platoon to make a ground rescue of his comrades. Due to his leadership and unwavering courage under fire, his fellow aviators were eventually rescued by the friendly ground forces. His actions were in keeping with the highest traditions of the military service and reflect great credit upon himself, his unit, and the United States Army.

4.) The President of the United States takes great pleasure in presenting the Distinguished Flying Cross to Chief Warrant Officer Ronald L. Tusi for heroism while participating in aerial flight evidenced by voluntary action, above and beyond the call of duty. Chief Warrant Officer Tusi distinguished himself by exceptionally valorous actions while serving as team leader of a team of gunships in support of allied troops near Bu Prang. An enemy force had set up several well-fortified positions and were inflicting heavy casualties on the allied troops. Despite withering fire and the numerous hits his aircraft received, he ordered his team to hold fire until they were close enough to insure that their own weapons would not injure allied soldiers. Leading the attack, he held fire until the last moment and killed six enemy soldiers, destroying one recoilless rifle and two mortar positions. The close support provided by Chief Warrant Officer Tusi's team enabled the allied force to rally and defeat a numerically superior enemy force. His actions were in keeping with the highest traditions of the military service and reflect great credit upon himself, his unit, and the United States Army.

5.) The President of the United States takes great pleasure in presenting the Distinguished Flying Cross to Chief Warrant Officer Ronald L. Tusi for heroism while participating in aerial flight evidenced by voluntary action, above and beyond the call of duty. Chief Warrant Officer Tusi distinguished himself evidenced by voluntary action, above and beyond the call of duty as Air Mission Commander during an aerial reconnaissance in search of a large enemy force in Binh Dinh Province. When another aircraft was struck by an enemy rocket and crashed in flames, Chief Warrant Officer Tusi immediately wrenched his helicopter into a near vertical dive and, despite the heavy automatic weapons fire directed at his aircraft, waited until the last possible moment before placing his deadly rockets into the insurgent's midst. Instructing the wing aircraft to guide the injured aviators to a small knoll, Chief Warrant Officer Tusi then coordinated artillery and airstrikes with his own devastating gunship attacks on the area. Disregarding his own safety, he battled against the highly determined and well-equipped enemy force. Further directing the extraction of the injured aviators by means of a rope ladder, he again provided close aerial fire support while the extraction was successfully completed. Through his expert airmanship and gallantry in action, he contributed immeasurably to the success of the mission and most assuredly saved the lives of two fellow soldiers. His actions were in keeping with the highest traditions of the military service and reflect great credit upon himself, his unit, and the United States Army.

6.) The President of the United States takes great pleasure in presenting the Distinguished Flying Cross to Chief Warrant Officer Ronald L. Tusi for heroism while participating in aerial flight evidenced by voluntary action, above and beyond the call of duty. Chief Warrant Officer Tusi distinguished himself by exceptionally valorous actions while leading a team of two helicopter gunships providing armed aerial support for an allied infantry unit near Plei Mei. The infantry unit came under heavy attack by a large enemy force and in minutes had sustained heavy casualties. In order to afford the allies time to evacuate their casualties and to regroup for counterattacks, Chief Warrant Officer Tusi unhesitatingly and with complete disregard for his own safety, attacked the insurgent positions from extremely close range, intentionally drawing fire away from the wounded toward his aircraft. Although he was the target of intense enemy fire, he continued to challenge position after enemy position. Chief Warrant Officer Tusi's diversionary tactics proved successful, thereby enabling the wounded allied soldiers to be evacuated to safety. His actions were in keeping with the highest traditions of the military service and reflect great credit upon himself, his unit, and the United States Army.

7.) The President of the United States takes great pleasure in presenting the Distinguished Flying Cross to Chief Warrant Officer Ronald L. Tusi for heroism while participating in aerial flight evidenced by voluntary action, above and beyond the call of duty. These men distinguished themselves by exceptionally valorous actions while leading a light fire team of attack helicopters which provided aerial support for an allied battalion. In heavy contact with two enemy regiments, the allied force had sustained heavy casualties. Facing enemy gunners who were employing an arsenal of anti-aircraft weapons, these men braved the enemy's overwhelming firepower to attack several groups of enemy soldiers who had launched massive probing attacks on a weakened section of the allied perimeter. The enemy directed a continuous fusillade of fire at their aircraft. For two hours these men were engaged in a fierce air-to-ground battle. Placing the mission and the welfare of the ground forces above their own safety proved to be factors which changed the course of the battle. In addition these men attacked an anti-aircraft weapon which earlier had damaged three allied aircraft. Utilizing the cover afforded by the terrain and the concealment of the dark night, they maneuvered their aircraft at tree top level. When in range of the anti-aircraft position, they placed highly effective aerial weapons fire on it while subjected to a murderous barrage of hostile fire. Their exemplary skill as aviators contributed immeasurably to the success of the mission. Their actions were in keeping with the highest traditions of the military service and reflect great credit upon themselves, their unit, and the United States Army.

8.) The President of the United States takes great pleasure in presenting the Distinguished Flying Cross to Chief Warrant Officer Ronald L. Tusi for heroism while participating in aerial flight evidenced by voluntary action, above and beyond the call of duty in the Republic of Vietnam. Chief Warrant Officer Tusi distinguished himself on 13 May 1972 while serving as section leader of an AH-1G Cobra helicopter in defense of Army of the Republic of Vietnam troops and American advisors who were sustaining a heavy enemy tank assault at An Loc, Republic of Vietnam. Adverse weather conditions and the nearness of the advancing tanks to the friendly troops necessitated flying at an extremely low altitude while his helicopter received intense enemy fire. Realizing the serious threat to the friendly troops and exposing himself to the hostile fire at dangerously low altitudes, Chief Warrant Officer Tusi continued to engage the enemy force until the attack was finally thwarted. Chief Warrant Officer Tusi's heroic actions were in keeping with the highest traditions of the military service and reflect great credit upon himself, his unit, and the United States Army.