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 THE SECRETARY OF THE NAVY WASHINGTON

The Secretary of the Navy takes pleasure in presenting the NAVY COMMENDATION MEDAL to

LIEUTENANT GEORGE THOMAS COKER UNITED STATES NAVAL RESERVE

for service as set forth in the following

CITATION:


 * For heroic achievement while participating in aerial flight on 30 June 1966, as bombardier/navigator of a jet aircraft, serving with Attack Squadron SIXTY-FIVE, embarked in USS CONSTELLATION (CVA-64), during aerial combat operations in Southeast Asia. Lieutenant (then Lieutenant, Junior Grade) Coker participated in a daring and dangerous daylight air-wing strike involving nineteen aircraft, against the Ground-Controlled Intercept Site at Kep, North Vietnam. Although opposed by intense antiaircraft-artillery and automatic-weapons fire, and while flying through extremely adverse weather conditions in a known operating area for enemy aircraft and surface-to-air missiles, he navigated his aircraft with great precision, keeping his pilot fully advised of flak and the positions of other aircraft. Lieutenant Coker's skillful management of the aircraft's ordnance system while coaching his pilot as to dive angle, airspeed, and altitude contributed to the achievement of an accurate bombing run. The strike inflicted severe damage to the deeply-revetted and well-protected vans and radar stations. Lieutenant Coker's effective utilization of electronic countermeasures equipment throughout the flight provided valuable security for the strike group. By his superb professional skill and courageous actions under fire, he upheld the highest traditions of the United States Naval Service.

The Combat Distinguishing Device is authorized.