MAJOR (then First Lieutenant) LEONARD J. FUNDERBURK. For extraordinary heroism in military operations against an opposing armed force as a Forward Air Controller in Southeast Asia on 22 March 1971. On that date, Captain Funderburk flew his lightly armed observation aircraft into an extremely hostile air environment to support beleagured allied ground forces during Operation Lam Son 719. When Captain Funderburk arrived on scene, a column of ten North Vietnamese tanks had already begun the final assault on the friendly forces. Captain Funderburk requested from tactical strike aircraft to protect the friendly forces from being decimated by the vastly superior firepower of the enemy. Realizing the life or death situation of the allies, Captain Funderburk, with complete disregard for his own safety, rolled in repeatedly on the advancing enemy tanks, armed only with marking rockets. He succeeded in halting the enemy tanks for a few precious minutes, and most of their fire was diverted to himself. Despite some of the most intense ground fire ever experienced, Captain Funderburk repeatedly made marking passes for the strike aircraft until the advancing tanks were halted. The results from the strikes directed by Captain Funderburk were three tanks destroyed and at least 1300 allied lives saved. Through his extraordinary heroism, superb airmanship, and aggressiveness in the face of the enemy, Captain Funderburk reflected the highest credit upon himself and the United States Air Force.

Maj. Funderburk resides in North Carolina. He joined the Legion of Valor in 1999 and is a life member.