Citation to accompany the award of the Distinguished Flying Cross:

The President of the United States takes great pleasure in presenting the Distinguished Flying Cross to Warrant Officer Jeffrey E. Blaisdell for heroism while participating in aerial flight evidence by voluntary actions above and beyond the call of duty in the Republic of Vietnam. Warrant Officer Blaisdell distinguished himself by exceptionally valorous actions on 14 November 1968 as Pilot of an ambulance helicopter five miles south of Landing Zone English. After making two evacuations during the day under sporadic enemy fire, Mister Blaisdell received a third call for assistance from the same ground unit. He learned that gun ships were being subjected to hostile fire, but he was also told that the two casualties waiting in a rice paddy would die if they were not immediately extracted. Mister Blaisdell decided to attempt the rescue and was making a low-level approach when he was forced away by an intense enemy fusillade. Gunships applied suppressive fire and he again flew toward the casualties, this time reaching them and taking them aboard. As the helicopter left the landing zone, however, enemy automatic weapons fire tore through the fuselage and fuel cells, wounding the crew chief and mortally wounding one of the patients. Mister Blaisdell and the Aircraft Commander continued the flight out of the range of the enemy barrage and managed to keep the badly damaged ship airborne on the way to the landing zone. Warrant Officer Blaisdell’s outstanding flying ability and devotion to duty were in keeping with the highest traditions of the military service and reflect great credit upon himself, his unit, and the United States Army.