Peter Tsouprake

The President of the United States takes pleasure in presenting the Air Force Cross to Peter Tsouprake, Major, U.S. Air Force, for extraordinary heroism in military operations against an opposing armed force near Hanoi, North Vietnam, on 5 July 1966. On that date, Major Tsouprake, an F-105F Electronics Warfare Officer in the lead aircraft of a flight tasked to support a large strike force, detected hostile surface-to-air missile sites which threatened the other strike force. With complete disregard for his personal safety, Major Tsouprake responded professionally in the face of continuous heavy and intense ground fire of all types and directed his pilot in attacks against four separate missile complexes. Three of the four sites were completely destroyed, and the remaining site sustained extensive damage. This courageous and aggressive action considerably reduced the missile threat against the other strike force. Through his extraordinary heroism, superb airmanship, and aggressiveness in the face of hostile forces, Major Tsouprake reflected the highest credit upon himself and the United States Air Force.