The President of the United States of America takes pleasure in presenting the Distinguished Flying Cross to Lieutenant, Junior Grade David S. Hill, United States Coast Guard, for extraordinary achievement while participating in aerial flight as Aircraft Commander of HH60J Helicopter CG-6042 on 13 November 2003. Responding to a distress call from the 45-foot sailing vessel LADY SAMANTHA that was disabled 150 nautical miles south of Cape Cod, Massachusetts, the aircrew fought 85 knot winds to find the vessel helplessly battered by massive seas. The vessel occasionally broached until its masts were in the water, and the wildly swinging rigging made a direct hoist from the vessel impossible. Lieutenant Junior Grade Hill instructed the crew to abandon ship into their life raft, but as soon as they inflated it, the howling winds parted the tether and it quickly disappeared downwind. As nightfall set in, and left with little choice, he then quickly ordered the sailors to abandon ship one at a time into the raging seas so they could be hoisted from the water. Maintaining a stable hover was a monumental challenge, with 75-knot winds as massive 50-foot waves passed beneath the helicopter. Displaying incredible skill and resolve, Lieutenant Junior Grade Hill expertly maneuvered the helicopter into position to recover the first survivor. Relying solely on conning commands from the flight mechanic, he held position while the rescue swimmer was lowered into the water. As Lieutenant Junior Grade Hill struggled to hold the aircraft in position, the rescue swimmer fought his way to the survivor, hooked up, and signaled for pick up. Through a monumental effort, the aircrew overcame the incredible difficult and dangerous conditions to complete the first rescue in a short span of only eight minutes. With the sailing vessel now one mile downwind, Lieutenant Junior Grade Hill repositioned for another rescue. The same procedures were followed for the second and third rescues, but the fourth and fifth were completed in total darkness, increasing the already enormous challenges. Through extraordinary airmanship and determination, Lieutenant Junior Grade Hill and crew spent an exhausting 50 minutes in a hover to successfully rescue all five crewmembers from the LADY SAMANTHA. Lieutenant Junior Grade Hill’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.