Foil: 6 Panel: Distinguished Flying Cross Society Column: 1 Line: 41

Wall of Honor Level:
Air and Space Friend

Honored by:

The President of the United States takes pleasure in presenting the Distinguished Flying Cross to Lieutenant Colonel John J. McCarthy, United States Marine Corps for service as set for the in the following citation:
“For heroism and extraordinary achievement in aerial flight while serving as the Commanding Officer of Maine Attack Squadron 311, Marine Aircraft Group Twelve, First Marine Aircraft Wing in connection with combat operations against the enemy in the Republic of Vietnam. Early on the evening of 4 March 1969, Lieutenant Colonel McCarthy launched as Wingman in a flight of two A-4 Skyhawk aircraft assigned the mission of providing close air support for a Marine company that was heavily engaged in combat with a large, well-entrenched hostile force and pinned down in a heavily overgrown, abandoned village on the banks of the Tinh Yen River north of An Hoa. Arriving over the designated area, he was briefed by the Tactical Air Controller (Airborne) that the Marines had sustained several casualties from the intense enemy rocket-propelled grenade, small arms, and automatic weapons fire, that precise ordnance delivery would be necessary due to the proximity of the opposing forces, and that single bomb drops would be required on all attack runs in order to obtain maximum target coverage with the limited ordnance available. Undaunted by the adverse weather conditions, hazardous mountain terrain, and the extremely heavy volume of hostile first directed against his Skyhawk, Lieutenant Colonel McCarthy skillfully maneuvered his aircraft on its initial bombing run and delivered his ordnance with pinpoint accuracy upon the target. Observing intense enemy .50 caliber machine gun fire directed against his flight during the air strike, he completely disregarded his own safety as he braved the heavy volume of hostile fire to fearlessly execute repeated attacks and boldly deliver all his ordnance with unerring accuracy upon the enemy firing positions. As a result of the devastating effectiveness of his attacks, one hostile machine gun emplacement was destroyed and the enemy ground fire successfully suppressed. Resolutely determined to provide all assistance possible; he then established an orbit above the target area to provide cover with his 20mm cannon while another fixed wing flight conducted air strikes. Lieutenant Colonel McCarthy’s courage, superior airmanship and unwavering devotion to duty in the face of great personal danger were instrumental in the accomplishment of the hazardous mission and were in keeping with the highest traditions of the Marine Corps and of the United States Naval Service.”