Vietnam War Medal of Honor Recipient. He received the award from President Lyndon Johnson at the White House on February 1, 1968 for his actions as a captain with the 354th Tactical Fighter Squadron, US Air Force, on March 10, 1967, in the sky over Thai Nguyen, North Vietnam. He attended Iowa State University at Ames, Iowa for two years before joining the US Air Force in 1954 and received his commission through the aviation cadet program. He received assignments to Dover Air Force Base, Delaware, Spangdahlem Air Base, Germany, and McConnell Air Force Base, Kansas before he was deployed to Takhi Royal Thai Air Base, Tahiland, where he flew F-105 Thunderchief fighter aircraft in support of the Vietnam War. On March 10, 1967, while flying a mission over North Viet Nam, his aircraft was badly damaged in combat and he refused to return to his home base, but instead he continued on his mission and destroyed two surface-to-air missile site in the face of attacking enemy aircraft, before limping home. His courage and bravery on that day won him the Medal of Honor. In June 1967 he returned to the US and following several stateside assignments, he retired in 1977 at the rank of colonel. Among his other military awards include the Distinguished Flying Cross, The Meritorious Service Medal (with o0ne oak leaf cluster), and the Air Medal (with one silver and three oak leaf clusters), among others. He died at the age of 53. His Medal of Honor citation reads: "Maj. Dethlefsen was 1 of a flight of F-105 aircraft engaged in a fire suppression mission designed to destroy a key antiaircraft defensive complex containing surface-to-air (SAM), an exceptionally heavy concentration of antiaircraft artillery, and other automatic weapons. The defensive network was situated to dominate the approach and provide protection to an important North Vietnamese industrial center that was scheduled to be attacked by fighter bombers immediately after the strike by Maj. Dethlefsen's flight. In the initial attack on the defensive complex the lead aircraft was crippled, and Maj. Dethlefsen's aircraft was extensively damaged by the intense enemy fire. Realizing that the success of the impending fighter bomber attack on the center now depended on his ability to effectively suppress the defensive fire, Maj. Dethlefsen ignored the enemy's overwhelming firepower and the damage to his aircraft and pressed his attack. Despite a continuing hail of antiaircraft fire, deadly surface-to-air missiles, and counterattacks by MIG interceptors, Maj. Dethlefsen flew repeated close range strikes to silence the enemy defensive positions with bombs and cannon fire. His action in rendering ineffective the defensive SAM and antiaircraft artillery sites enabled the ensuing fighter bombers to strike successfully the important industrial target without loss or damage to their aircraft, thereby appreciably reducing the enemy's ability to provide essential war material. Maj. Dethlefsen's consummate skill and selfless dedication to this significant mission were in keeping with the highest traditions of the U.S. Air Force and reflect great credit upon himself and the Armed Forces of his country."