Thompson, Fred N.

Fred Thompson’s Silver Star states: “The President of the United States of America, authorized by Act of Congress July 9, 1918 (amended by an act of July 25, 1963), takes pleasure in presenting the Silver Star to Captain Fred Neale Thompson (AFSN: AO-3080312), United States Air Force, for gallantry in connection with military operations against an opposing armed force as an F-100 Pilot with the 416th Tactical Fighter Squadron, Phu Cat Air Base, Republic of Vietnam on 11 June 1967.

On that date, Captain Thompson was a member of a flight of two F-100’s scrambled from alert at Phu Cat Air Base in response to a request for immediate close air support near Duc Pho, Republic of Vietnam. A company of the 101st Airborne Division had been pinned down near the top of a hill by a hostile force of unknown size which lay encircling them in dense triple canopied jungle around and down the south side of the hill. The Army was receiving heavy small arms and automatic weapons fire, and the area was covered by a 200 foot broken to overcast ceiling with haze and smoke limiting visibility to less than two miles. Captain Thompson, scrambled into weather conditions below many jet radar landing minimums, in mountainous terrain, ignored hostile automatic weapons fire and a friendly artillery barrage which continued unceasingly throughout his attack to deliver extremely accurate low level ordnance on the very edge of the Army perimeter. His courage, determination, and unerring accuracy broke the assault and saved a United States Army company from almost certain annihilation. By his gallantry and devotion to duty, Captain Thompson has reflected great credit upon himself and the United States Air Force.” (1)

Source: (1) https://valor.militarytimes.com/hero/50185