The President of the United States of America takes pleasure in presenting the Distinguished Flying Cross to Commander Paul A. Langlois, United States Coast Guard, for extraordinary achievement while participating in aerial flight on the night of 12 February 1997 while serving as aircraft commander of Coast Guard HH-65A helicopter, CGNR 6589. The aircrew was engaged in the perilous rescue of two people from the sailing vessel GALE RUNNER that had become dismasted, disabled, and was taking on water in a gale south of the Quillayute River, off the Washington Coast. Commander Langlois flew the helicopter more than 85 miles on instruments, aided only by radar and his copilot’s night vision goggles, below low cloud ceilings, heavy rain, 40- to 50-knot winds, and occasional turbulence. While en route to the distressed vessel, Commander Langlois was diverted to search for a Coast Guard motor lifeboat, also dispatched to assist the GALE RUNNER, that had become unreported and was believed to be in distress. After a brief search for the missing lifeboat, Commander Langlois was directed to rescue the persons aboard the GALE RUNNER, now in imminent danger of going on the rocks in the sea stacks forming the Quillayute Needles. Commander Langlois navigated the helicopter between the sea stacks and located the vessel, being battered in heavy surf and gale-force winds. Unable to safely use the helicopter’s Hover Augmentation System over the 25-foot seas and with no visual clues, he attempted to lower a rescue basket to the vessel’s crew, but was unable to safely do so. With the vessel now being swept toward the sea stacks, Commander Langlois repositioned the helicopter further downwind as the GALE RUNNER was dashed on and then between the rocks. With the vessel now in the relative lee of the sea stacks, Commander Langlois twice positioned the helicopter over the heaving and rolling sailboat to safely hoist the victims. Relieved of his search duties by other Coast Guard helicopters, Commander Langlois landed the helicopter at Station Quillayute River and then directed the search efforts for the missing motor lifeboat crew. Commander Langlois’ actions, aeronautical skill, and valor were instrumental in the rescue of two people. His courage, judgment, and devotion to duty are most heartily commended and are in keeping with the highest traditions of the United States Coast Guard.