Robert BARTSCH Doremus

The President of the United States takes pleasure in presenting a Gold Star in lieu of a Second Award of the Silver Star Medal to Robert Bartsch Doremus (4873032/597366), Commander, U.S. Navy (Reserve), for conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity while interned as a Prisoner of War in North Vietnam during September 1966. Commander Doremus’ captors, completely ignoring international agreements, subjected him to extreme mental and physical cruelties in an attempt to obtain military information and false confessions for propaganda purposes. Through his resistance to those brutalities, he contributed significantly toward the eventual abandonment of harsh treatment by the North Vietnamese, which was attracting international attention. By his determination, courage, resourcefulness, and devotion, Commander Doremus reflected great credit upon himself and upheld the highest traditions of the Naval Service and the United States Armed Forces.

The President of the United States takes pleasure in presenting the Silver Star Medal to Robert Bartsch Doremus (4873032/597366), Commander [then Lieutenant Commander], U.S. Navy (Reserve), for conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity in action while serving in Fighting Squadron TWENTY-ONE (VF-21), embarked from the U.S.S. MIDWAY (CVA-41), as Flight Officer of an F-4B Phantom aircraft during a mission in support of combat operations in Southeast Asia against North Vietnam forces on 17 June 1965. Engaging at least four and possibly six FRESCO aircraft, Commander Doremus accounted for one confirmed kill and contributed to a second confirmed kill by the other F-4B aircraft in the flight by diverting the remaining enemy planes from their threat to the U.S. striking forces. With heavy anti-aircraft fire bursting through the patrol area, his crew relentlessly maintained their vigil and pressed forward their attack, seeking out and destroying the enemy aircraft and thereby preventing damage to friendly strike aircraft in the area. By his outstanding courage, skill, and devotion to duty in the face of grave personal risk, Commander Doremus upheld the highest traditions of the United States Naval Service.