The President of the United States of America takes pleasure in presenting the Distinguished Flying Cross to Aviation Survival Technician First Class Brian E. Laubenstein, United States Coast Guard, for extraordinary heroism while participating in aerial flight as Rescue Swimmer aboard HH-60J Helicopter CG6042 on 13 November 2003. Responding to a distress call from S/V LADY SAMANTHA that was disabled 150 miles south of Cape Cod, MA, the aircrew fought 85- knot wind gusts to locate the vessel being battered by massive seas. The vessel frequently rolled until its masts were in the water, and wildly swinging rigging made a direct hoist from the vessel impossible. The sailors tried to abandon ship into their life raft, but the howling winds parted the tether and it quickly disappeared downwind. The aircrew then ordered the sailors to enter the raging seas one at a time so they could be hoisted from the water. Undaunted by the massive 50-foot waves and 75-knot winds, Petty Officer Laubenstein instantly volunteered to enter the water. Demonstrating incredible courage and determination, he was lowered into the top of a wave and immediately fought his way through massive breaking seas to reach the first survivor, connect him to the rescue strop, and signal for pick up. Through a remarkably skillful effort by the entire aircrew, the first two rescues were completed in only 20 minutes. During the third rescue, the survivor slipped out of her flotation device and was in imminent danger of succumbing to the frigid waters. Without hesitation, Petty Officer Laubenstein went back into the raging seas, reaching the survivor just as she was about to go under. Because she had no flotation device, he feared loosening his grip to place the rescue strop around her. Instead, relying solely on his strength, he used the “physical grip” recovery method as they were raised 70 feet to the helicopter through the 75-knot winds. Had he not been able to maintain his grip, she would have fallen to the water and perished. On the fourth rescue, complete darkness had fallen, obscuring the approaching wave crests. As Petty Officer Laubenstein was lowered into water, a massive wave broke on top of him, burying him beneath tons of foaming water. For a tense 27 seconds, the wave held him below the surface until he was able to fight his way up for air. Undaunted by that harrowing experience, he continued with the mission to rescue the fourth and fifth survivors. Petty Officer Laubenstein’s actions, aeronautical skill and valor were instrumental in the rescue of five persons. His courage, judgment, and devotion to duty are most heartily commended and are in keeping with the highest traditions of the United States Coast Guard.