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PRIEST Royce Whitman "Deacon" (Col)

 

Distinguished Service Cross
Disntinguished Flying Cross (One oak leaf cluster)
Air Medal (9 oak leaf cluster)
European-African-Middle Eastern Campaign Medal
World War II Victory Medal

 

 

President of the United States takes pleasure in presenting the Distinguished Service Cross to Royce W. Priest (0-816831), Second Lieutenant (Air Corps), U.S. Army Air Forces, for extraordinary heroism in connection with military operations against an armed enemy while serving as Pilot of a P-51 Fighter Airplane in the 354th Fighter Squadron, 355th Fighter Group, EIGHTH Air Force, in aerial combat against enemy forces on 18 August 1944, while leading the second element in the lead squadron on a dive-bombing mission over enemy occupied Europe. When his Squadron Commander's airplane was hit by flak and forced down in enemy territory, Lieutenant Priest, seeing his leader's plight, landed, threw out his parachute and dinghy, and took off with his Commander as passenger, both returning safely to base. The extreme courage of Lieutenant Priest's rescue has been an inspiration to his fellow officers and reflects highest credit upon himself and is in keeping with the highest traditions of the military service, reflecting great credit upon himself, the 8th Air Force, and the United States Army Air Forces.

Headquarters: U.S. Strategic Forces in Europe, General Orders No. 87 (1944)
Home Town: San Antonio, Texas