Dale E. Stovall Air Force Cross citation
THE UNITED STATES AIR FORCE
AIR FORCE CROSS
PRESENTED TO
CAPTAIN DALE E. STOVALL
UNITED STATES AIR FORCE
The President of the United States of America, authorized by Title 10, Section 8742, United States Code, takes pleasure in presenting the Air Force Cross to Captain Dale E. Stovall, United States Air Force, for extraordinary heroism in military operations against an opposing armed force as an Aircraft Commander of an HH-53C rescue helicopter of the 40th Aerospace Rescue and Recovery Squadron, Nakhon Phanom Royal Thai Air Base, Thailand, in action in Southeast Asia from 1 June 1972 to 2 June 1972. During this period, Captain Stovall, voluntarily and at great risk to his own life, repeatedly penetrated an extremely hostile and heavily defended area to effect the rescue of a downed American airman. Captain Stovall’s first attempt to rescue the airman was thwarted by numerous hostile aircraft and missiles being directed at the rescue force. Determined to save this airman, he willingly returned to this high threat area, braving intense ground fire, to recover the downed airman from deep in North Vietnam. Through his extraordinary heroism, superb airmanship, and aggressiveness in the face of hostile forces, Captain Stovall reflected the highest credit upon himself and the United States Air Force.
Born: Feb. 19, 1944 in Toppenish, Wa… Enlisted in the Air Force in 1962… Graduated from the Air Force Academy in 1967… Also awarded two Silver Stars and two Distinguished Flying Crosses… Retired in 1993 as brigadier general