THE WALL OF FACES

Distinguished Flying Cross

Awarded for actions during the Vietnam War

The President of the United States of America, authorized by Act of Congress, July 2, 1926, takes pleasure in presenting the Distinguished Flying Cross to First Lieutenant (Armor) Bertrand Jahn Dacey, United States Army, for heroism while participating in aerial flight evidenced by voluntary action above and beyond the call of duty on 18 March 1969, while serving as Helicopter Pilot with the Air Cavalry Troop, 11th Armored Cavalry Regiment, in the Republic of Vietnam. On this date while conducting an aerial reconnaissance mission, he received word that an aircraft had received heavy automatic weapons fire nearby. Moving quickly to the area of contact, Lieutenant Dacey successfully located and marked the machine gun position with smoke. Although extensive damage to his aircraft forced him to fly to a maintenance area for repairs, he quickly returned to the area of contact, re-marked the enemy machine gun emplacement and brought in airstrikes which resulted in destruction of the hostile position. First Lieutenant Dacey's outstanding courage 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.

Action Date: March 18, 1969

Service: Army

Rank: First Lieutenant

Company: Air Cavalry Troop

Regiment: 11th Armored Cavalry Regiment

If I should die, and leave you here awhile, be not like others, sore undone, who keep long vigils by the silent dust, and weep..for MY sake, turn again to life, and smile...Nerving thy heart, and trembling hand to do something to comfort other hearts than thine...Complete these dear, unfinished tasks of mine...and I, perchance, may therein comfort you.

In Remembrance

Bertrand is buried at Moravian Cemetery in Staten Island, NY. DFC BSM AM-19OLC PH

CAPTAIN



BERTRAND JAHN DACEY





was a posthumous recipient of the





DISTINGUISHED SERVICE CROSS











THE PROUD YOUNG VALOR THAT ROSE ABOVE THE MORTAL

AND THEN, AT LAST, WAS MORTAL AFTER ALL











YOU ARE NOT FORGOTTEN



NOR SHALL YOU EVER BE







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CITATION FOR POSTHUMOUS AWARD OF THE



DISTINGUISHED SERVICE CROSS





The President of the United States takes pride in presenting the Distinguished Service Cross ( Posthumously ) to Bertrand Jahn Dacey, Captain ( Armor ), U.S. Army, for extraordinary heroism in action in connection with military operations involving conflict with an armed hostile force in the Republic of Vietnam, while serving with Air Cavalry Troop, 11th Armored Cavalry Regiment. Captain Dacey distinguished himself by exceptionally valorous actions on 27 April 1969 while flying a reconnaissance mission in a light observation helicopter seven miles southwest of Quan Loi in Tay Ninh Province. An Infantry company was pinned down by a North Vietnamese force, and another helicopter had proceeded to the conflict area but was shot down. Captain Dacey immediately flew to the battle site and began making low passes over the hostile force, marking them for air strikes. On his seventh pass, his aircraft was struck by a burst of machine gun fire and crashed in flames, killing him instantly. Captain Dacey's extraordinary heroism and devotion to duty, at the cost of his life, were in keeping with the highest traditions of the military service and reflect great credit upon himself, his unit, and the United States Army.







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