The President of the United States of America takes pleasure in presenting a Gold Star in lieu of a Second Award of the Distinguished Flying Cross to Lieutenant Commander [then Lieutenant] David John Rollins (NSN: 0-633926/5691152), United States Navy, for heroism and extraordinary achievement while participating in aerial flight on 14 May 1967 as a Naval Flight Officer of a jet aircraft, attached to Fighter Squadron ONE HUNDRED FOURTEEN (VF-114), embarked in U.S.S. KITTY HAWK (CVA-63), in a strike against the Thanh Hoa Bridge in North Vietnam. As Radar Intercept Officer, Lieutenant Commander Rollins was an integral member of the F-4 fighter/bomber combat crew of an aircraft piloted by the flight leader of a three-plane, flak suppression element. He materially assisted the flight in leading a highly successful attack against the heavy anti-aircraft defenses protecting the strategic bridge. Approaching the target area, Lieutenant Commander Rollins demonstrated exceptional professionalism in directing his pilot on navigation over unfamiliar terrain, enabling the element leader to arrive at the precise position for a closely-timed and coordinated attack. Lieutenant Commander Rollins assisted his pilot in the acquisition of a firing anti-aircraft artillery site, and resolutely provided guidance in weapons delivery parameters, thereby contributing directly to the accuracy of the rocket attack which silenced the site. During the attack dive, his aircraft received battle damage and he was forced to eject over enemy territory. His courage and exceptional professional skill in silencing the firing site resulted in the effective suppression of the enemy defenses and permitted the strike group to complete its attack and retire without battle damage. By his expert airmanship and inspiring devotion to duty, Lieutenant Commander Rollins upheld the highest traditions of the United States Naval Service.

The President of the United States of America takes pleasure in presenting the Distinguished Flying Cross to Lieutenant David John Rollins (NSN: 0-633926/5691152), United States Navy, for heroism and extraordinary achievement while participating in aerial flight as a Naval Flight Officer of a jet aircraft, attached to Fighter Squadron ONE HUNDRED FOURTEEN (VF-114), embarked in U.S.S. KITTY HAWK (CVA-63) on 21 January 1967. Assigned as an integral member of the F-4 fighter bomber coordinated strike against the Ninh Binh transshipment complex in North Vietnam, Lieutenant Rollins materially assisted his pilot in leading six F-4 strike aircraft in a precision attack against the heavily defended target. He assisted the element leader in planning the attack and provided guidance on navigation over unfamiliar terrain, on avoidance of heavy anti-aircraft artillery fire and on target identification. As a result of his cool professionalism and vigilance in the face of great danger, the element leader maneuvered the element to avoid intense flak and arrived at the precise position to conduct a highly successful, closely timed, coordinated attack in which none of the aircraft in the element received damage. During the attack he resolutely provided angle, air speed and release altitude information which permitted his pilot to concentrate on target tracking, thereby contributing to the direct hits which rendered the vital transshipment target area unserviceable. Lieutenant Rollins’ courageous action in the face of intense enemy fire and loyal devotion to duty were in keeping with the highest traditions of the United States Naval Service.