The President of the United States of America, authorized by Act of Congress, July 2, 1926, takes pleasure in presenting the Distinguished Flying Cross to Chief Warrant Officer (CW-2) Randal L. Willer, United States Army, for heroism while participating in aerial fight evidenced by voluntary action above and beyond the call of duty on 12 August 1969 while serving as a pilot with the Aviation Section 2d Squadron, 11th Armored Cavalry Regiment, in the Republic of Vietnam. On this date elements of the 2d Squadron had come in contact with an estimated battalion of North Vietnamese. Flying immediately to the area, Warrant Officer Willer made several low passes so that the precise deployment of the enemy force could be determined. On one pass the helicopter was raked by an intense volley of automatic weapons fire. Despite the precarious vulnerability of his craft, he hovered to permit the gunner to lay down an accurate suppressive barrage of fire against the well-fortified positions and also to permit the commander to direct the ground forces. Suddenly a wounded man was spotted on top of an abandoned assault vehicle. Ignoring the possibility of enemy fire he began hovering over the area so that a rescue could be made. Because of an intense volley of recoilless rifle fire from the nearby grove of rubber trees Warrant Officer Willer quickly maneuvered out of the area while artillery strikes were called. He then attempted to re-enter the same area but was unable to locate the wounded man again. He continued searching until he became low on fuel and had to return to the base camp. Chief Warrant Officer Willer’s devotion to duty and concern for the welfare of his comrades were in keeping with the highest traditions of the military service and reflect great credit upon himself, his unit and the United States Army.