The President of the United States of America, authorized by Act of Congress, July 2, 1926, takes pleasure in presenting the Distinguished Flying Cross with Combat “V” to Captain Michael R. Armstrong (AFSN: FR-3072147), United States Air Force, for heroism while participating in aerial flight as a UH-1F helicopter pilot in Southeast Asia on 13 October 1967. On that date, Captain Armstrong was scrambled as number two in a flight of two armed helicopters to provide gunship cover for seven unarmed helicopters which were to extract a large force of American and friendly allies who were surrounded by hostile forces. Although one Army gunship had been moderately damaged just prior to his arrival at the scene, Captain Armstrong, without hesitation, flew his gunship on several low-level rocket and gun passes in an attempt to break the attack. He maintained his low-level protective orbit for approximately forty-five minutes while the party moved to a more suitable landing zone. Subsequently, he jettisoned his remaining ammunition and made an approach to the landing zone, unarmed, to pick up the remaining members of the assault party when three of the extraction helicopters ran low on fuel and had to return to friendly territory for re-servicing. The outstanding heroism and selfless devotion to duty displayed by Captain Armstrong reflect great credit upon himself and the United States Air Force.