The President of the United States of America takes pleasure in presenting the Distinguished Flying Cross to Lieutenant James Brian Wallace, United States Coast Guard, for extraordinary achievement while participating in aerial flight on the afternoon of 10 January 1977 while serving as pilot and aircraft commander of Coast Guard HH-3F 1438 helicopter engaged in the perilous rescue of two seamen from the tank vessel CHESTER A. POLING which had broken in half and was sinking in a violent storm near Cape Ann, Massachusetts. Dispatched from Air Station Cape Cod, Lieutenant Wallace piloted the aircraft to the scene despite heavy rain, turbulence and winds gusting to 65 knots. Arriving on scene, 5 men were observed on the stern section of the hapless vessel. Due to the gale force winds and the attitude of the wreck, Lieutenant Wallace had to maintain a hover without visual reference and with only the hoist operator’s commands for guidance. After the first man was hoisted to safety and the rescue basket was being lowered for the second man, one of the seamen fell into the frigid seas. Lieutenant Wallace immediately descended in an attempt to recover the unconscious man from the water. After several attempts proved futile, Lieutenant Wallace returned to the stern section to rescue the other three men. As he positioned the helicopter for the rescue, the vessel suddenly pitched up and rolled to starboard, casting the three men into the mountainous seas. Two men drifted toward a nearby rescue vessel and the third drifted forward along the stern section. Quickly assessing the situation, Lieutenant Wallace maneuvered the helicopter above the wreckage and dragged the rescue basket under the now immobile survivor who was then hoisted to safety. The helicopter was then flown to Gloucester, Massachusetts where the two men were turned over to waiting medical authorities. Lieutenant Wallace’s innovative actions, expert aeronautical skill and dauntless valor throughout this mission resulted in saving the lives of two seamen. His courage, sound judgment, and unwavering devotion to duty are most heartily commended and are in keeping with the highest traditions of the United States Coast Guard.