The President of the United States of America takes pleasure in presenting the Distinguished Flying Cross to Lieutenant, Junior Grade Ross H. Underhill, United States Navy, for extraordinary achievement while participating in aerial flight in connection with military operations against the enemy as wingman in a two-plane flight on an armed road reconnaissance and interdiction mission against military vehicles on a coastal highway in North Vietnam on 7 April 1965. During an attack against enemy gun emplacements, the flight leader’s aircraft was severely damaged and he was forced to eject over the water within range of enemy small arms and mortar fire. Lieutenant, Junior Grade, Underhill summoned a rescue helicopter and additional support before making low-level rocket and strafing attacks against the coastal gun emplacements. Due to the intense automatic weapons and mortar fire, the attempt to rescue the mortally wounded pilot was unsuccessful. Upon his return to the carrier, Lieutenant, Junior Grade, Underhill’s plane burst into flames from the anti-aircraft damage.