Foil: 6 Panel: Distinguished Flying Cross Society Column: 3 Line: 39

Wall of Honor Level:
Air and Space Friend

Honored by:
Mr. Dennie L. Sides

Dennie Sides was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross and two Oak Leaf Clusters for his his service as an Air Force pilot in Vietnam. The first, to then First Lieutenant (Lt.) Sides, was for heroism while participating in aerial flight as an advisor-pilot to the Vietnamese Air Force near Saigon, South Vietnam on 8 August 1963. On that date his aircraft lost power shortly after takeoff. Instruments indicated imminent engine failure; despite the danger he remained in the aircraft and succeeded in landing it safely with gear up in a field away from a heavily populated area.

The First Oak Leaf Cluster was awarded for extraordinary heroism while serving as instructor pilot of a T-28 fighter bomber, over the Republic of South Vietnam on 19 October 1963. Lt. Sides flew over a concentration of Viet Cong guerrillas at minimum altitude despite the danger, and despite severe ground fire, thus enabling Vietnamese forces to take offensive action against the guerrillas.

Promoted to captain (Capt.), Sides distinguished himself as aircraft commander of two F-4D Phantom fighters near Chu Lai, Vietnam on 14 August 1969. Capt. Sides disregarded his personal safety, and in spite of highly adverse weather conditions and terrain, delivered his ordnance precisely on target resulting in the relief of friendly forces who were pinned down by heavy hostile ground fire. His actions saved the friendly forces from apparent disaster and saved many friendly lives.