The President of the United States of America takes pleasure in presenting the Distinguished Flying Cross to Aviation Survivalman First Class Donald Villemaire, United States Coast Guard, for extraordinary achievement while participating in aerial flight on the night of 2 September 1998 while serving as Rescue Swimmer aboard Coast Guard HH-60J CGNR 6027. At 2330 hours, the helicopter launched from Aviation Training Center Mobile to assist the crew of the fishing vessel CAN TOO which had capsized, throwing its crew into the storm tossed sea. To save the fishermen’s lives, the aircrew of CGNR 6027 flew directly into the oncoming path of Hurricane Earl, a Category One hurricane churning in the Gulf of Mexico. As the crew battled darkness, low ceilings, poor visibility, heavy rainsqualls, and winds gusting in excess of 70 knots, Petty Officer Villemaire prepared himself for deployment into the raging seas. Upon locating two survivors clinging to the overturned hull, Petty Officer Villemaire displayed exceptional courage in volunteering to be hoisted down into the violent breaking seas. He fought through 15 foot waves; accidentally swallowing fuel-contaminated sea water as he swam to the capsized vessel. One at a time, Petty Officer Villemaire secured the survivors in a cross chest carry and towed them from the foundering vessel to the rescue basket as waves repeatedly broke over them. After being recovered by CGNR 6027, Petty Officer Villemaire administered first aid to the survivors and then assisted in the search for additional survivors. One hour later, a third fisherman was located clinging to floating debris. Petty Officer Villemaire once again displayed exceptional fortitude as he was deployed into the chaos and darkness to recover the third survivor from the churning water. Petty Officer Villemaire’s actions, Rescue Swimmer skills and valor were instrumental in the rescue of three survivors. 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.