AWARDED DFC: 4
CONFLICT/SPACE FLIGHT/EVENT:  Vietnam
MODEL:  F-100

Citation:  1.) The President of the United States takes pleasure in presenting the Distinguished Flying Cross to First Lieutenant Travis E. Vanderpool for extraordinary achievement while participating in aerial flight as an F-100 Pilot in Southeast Asia on 23 May 1967. On that date, Lieutenant Vanderpool was scrambled from the Bien Hoa Alert Pad to lend close air support to Army of the Republic of Vietnam forces engaged in heavy contact with hostile units southwest of Can Tho, Republic of Vietnam. Penetrating several cells of thunderstorms en route to the target area, Lieutenant Vanderpool descended entirely on instruments until he broke out of the overcast at 1000 feet. Despite continually deteriorating weather, Lieutenant Vanderpool was able to locate the target area and he commenced an immediate attack on hostile positions. Although forced to deliver under a 600-500 foot ceiling with heavy cross winds, Lieutenant Vanderpool made repeated passes on the hostile troops, braving intense small arms and automatic weapons fire as he placed his ordnance precisely upon the hostile position. His intrepid and courageous attacks under nearly impossible conditions inflicted heavy losses on the hostile force, breaking the attack and saving an untold number of Friendly forces. The professional competence, aerial skill, and devotion to duty displayed by Lieutenant Vanderpool reflect great credit upon himself and the United States Air Force.

2.) The President of the United States takes pleasure in presenting the Distinguished Flying Cross (First Oak Leaf Cluster) to First Lieutenant Travis E. Vanderpool for extraordinary achievement while participating in aerial flight as an F-100 Pilot near My Tho, Republic of Vietnam on 16 November 1967. On that date, Lieutenant Vanderpool was scrambled to provide close air support for a United States Army Company that was pinned down by fortified automatic weapons sites. Despite adverse weather conditions, intense hostile ground fire, and poor target identification features, Lieutenant Vanderpool made repeated low altitude ordnance deliveries precisely within the extremely narrow target confines and effectively silenced the withering fire. His timely and extremely accurate deliveries resulted in the saving of an untold number of Friendly lives and allowed them to regroup and initiate the offensive. The professional competence, aerial skill, and devotion to duty displayed by Lieutenant Vanderpool reflect great credit upon himself and the United States Air Force.

3.) The President of the United States takes pleasure in presenting the Distinguished Flying Cross (Second Oak Leaf Cluster) to First Lieutenant Travis E. Vanderpool for extraordinary achievement while participating in aerial flight as an F-100 Pilot near Xuan Loc, Republic of Vietnam on 10 January 1968. On that date, Lieutenant Vanderpool was scrambled from the Bien Hoa Air Base Alert Facility to support United States Army Forces which were surrounded and under withering cross fire from a larger hostile force. Arriving in the target area, he quickly analyzed the dire situation and realized the need for immediate delivery of his ordnance. Using afterburner and high "G" maneuvers to insure an absolute minimum of time between deliveries, Lieutenant Vanderpool made his ordnance passes through dense haze and smoke and a barrage of intense hostile fire directed at his aircraft. Placing his ordnance precisely on numerous machine gun positions, Lieutenant Vanderpool reduced the hostile fire to the extent that medical evacuation helicopters and badly needed supplies could reach the beleaguered American Force. Although operating within an envelope of poor visibility and continuous ground fire, Lieutenant Vanderpool disregarded his personal safety make repeated low­altitude, low-angle strafing passes to suppress the remaining hostile ground fire. His ordnance was delivered with such precision and accuracy that the hostile forces withdrew and many American lives were saved. The professional competence, aerial skill, and devotion to duty displayed by Lieutenant Vanderpool reflect great credit upon himself and the United States Air Force.

4.) The President of the United States takes pleasure in presenting the Distinguished Flying Cross (Third Oak Leaf Cluster) to First Lieutenant Travis E. Vanderpool for heroism while participating in aerial flight as an F-100 Pilot near Loc Ninh, Republic of Vietnam on 2 November 1967. On that date, Lieutenant Vanderpool piloted one of two F-100's in a night attack on numerous hostile rocket and automatic weapons sites during the Battle of Loch Ninh. Despite the lack of sufficient flares, Lieutenant Vanderpool pressed the attack through one of the most intensive barrages of antiaircraft fire ever encountered in South Vietnam. His immediate and highly accurate ordnance deliveries destroyed several rocket positions and silenced two antiaircraft complexes. Lieutenant Vanderpool's gallantry under fire contributed materially to the successful defense of the beleaguered fort and was a significant factor in one of the most notable allied victories thus far in the conflict in South Vietnam. The outstanding heroism and selfless devotion to duty displayed by Lieutenant Vanderpool reflect great credit upon himself and the United States Air Force.