William H. Tunner

The President of the United States takes pleasure in presenting the Distinguished Service Cross to William H. Tunner, Major General, U.S. Air Force, for extraordinary heroism in connection with military operations against an armed enemy of the United Nations while serving as Commanding General, Combat Cargo Command (Provisional), Far East Air Forces, in action against enemy forces in the Republic of Korea on 20 October 1950. General Tunner masterfully executed the loading, transporting, and dropping of troops of the 187th Regimental Combat Team of the 11th Airborne Division in its daring behind-the-lines operation in the Sukchon-Songchon area north of Pyongyang, Korea, designed to trap the enemy and seal off his escape routes. General Tunner personally led the flight of transports over the drop zones approximately thirty-five miles behind enemy front lines in an area known to contain enemy ground forces and antiaircraft batteries. After the discharge of airborne troops together with their supporting materiel, General Tunner again led his transports over the area to drop necessary supplies to the units until they could joint forces with United Nations’ elements driving relentlessly north. General Tunner, through his extraordinary operational skill and his bold execution of daring plans, accomplished with notable precision and success an airborne feat that included an unprecedented drop of heavy equipment in combat, and transported a friendly fighting force deep behind enemy lines.
General Headquarters Far East Command: General Orders No. 47 (October 22, 1950)