The President of the United States of America takes pleasure in presenting the Distinguished Flying Cross to Lieutenant Robert W. Cooper, Jr., United States Navy, for extraordinary achievement while participating in aerial flight on 28 October 1965 as Radar Intercept Officer on an armed reconnaissance flight over enemy territory in North Vietnam. Following a successful attack on a bridge on a major highway, his aircraft was struck by anti-aircraft fire, followed by a severe explosion. Lieutenant Cooper remained with the aircraft in a valiant attempt to save it, although the cockpit began to fill with smoke. As the flaming aircraft was directed away from enemy concentrations, Lieutenant Cooper, suffering severe burns, ejected from the stricken plane into a jungle. He directed the rescue helicopter to his position and was then lifted to safety.