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

Citation:  1.) The President of the United States takes pleasure in presenting the Distinguished Flying Cross to Captain William K. Callahan, United States Marine Corps Reserves, 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. On the afternoon of 27 December 1970, Captain Callahan launched from the DaNang Air Base as Section Leader of a flight of two A-4 Skyhawk aircraft assigned to interdict an enemy staging area in a mountainous region approximately fifteen kilometers southwest of Na Thanh. Despite adverse weather conditions which forced him to maneuver at some point at three hundred feet above ground level while en route to the rendezvous point, he resolutely continued his mission. Arriving over the designated area, he received a target brief from the Forward Air Controller (Airborne) and was informed that the target was a heavily defended bunker complex located in a narrow river valley and that a ceiling of two thousand feet with clouds obscuring the tops of the mountains on both sides of the valley would severely restrict both visibility and his area of maneuverability. Undaunted by the extremely heavy volume of hostile fire directed at his Skyhawk, Captain Callahan fearlessly maneuvered his aircraft below the overcast along the narrow valley on repeated bombing runs and delivered all of his ordnance upon the target with pinpoint accuracy. Following the air strike, he then boldly executed repeated strafing runs until all of his ammunition was expended and the enemy fire silenced. As result of his flight's devastating attacks, two large reinforced bunkers, ten other type bunkers, and three gun pits were destroyed and numerous structures damaged. Captain Callahan’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.