BRIGADIER GENERAL JAMES R. McCARTHY (then Colonel) for extraordinary heroism in military op-erations against an opposing armed force as Airborne Mission Commander, 43rd Strategic Wing, near Hanoi, North Vietnam, on 26 December 1972. On that date, Colonel McCarthy com-manded the largest force of B-52’s ever assembled on a long-range bombing mission over so-phisticated and complex air defenses. Applying his exceptional knowledge of aerial warfare tactics and through his personal courage and technical expertise, Colonel McCarthy led this mission through intense anti-aircraft fire and heavy salvos of surface-to-air missiles to deliver the ordnance of the entire force on assigned targets accurately without sustaining a single loss. Through his extraordinary heroism, superb airmanship, and aggressiveness in the face of the enemy, Colonel McCarthy reflected the highest credit upon himself and the United States Air Force.

BG McCarthy resides in Florida.