AWARDED DFC: 1
CONFLICT/SPACE FLIGHT/EVENT:  Vietnam
MODEL:  A-6A

Citation:  1.) The President of the United States takes great pleasure in presenting the Distinguished Flying Cross to Lieutenant Commander Joe R. Brewer for heroism while participating in aerial flight while participating in aerial flight as a naval flight officer attached to Attack Squadron One Hundred Ninety-Six embarked in USS ENTERPRISE (CVAN-65). On 1 December 1972, Lieutenant Commander Brewer was the bombardier/navigator of an A6A Intruder on a single-plane night armed reconnaissance and strike mission. During the armed reconnaissance portion of his route, he located and attacked convoys of trucks moving south from the Thank Hoa area of North Vietnam, causing multiple secondary explosions and a sustained fire. After skirting the city of Thank Hoa, he began a systems attack on his assigned point target, a pontoon bridge two miles north of the city. He pressed home his attack through a hail of anti-aircraft fire, then was forced to evade three surface-to-air missiles. Lieutenant Commander Brewer's superb airmanship, courage and devotion to duty reflected great credit upon himself and were in keeping with the highest traditions of the United States Naval Service.