The President of the United States of America takes pleasure in presenting a Gold Star in lieu of a Second Award of the DFC to Lieutenant Commander David I. Scott, United States Coast Guard, for extraordinary achievement while participating in aerial flight on the morning of 22 December 1977 while serving as pilot and aircraft commander of Coast Guard HH3F CGNR 1484 engaged in the perilous rescue of two severely burned survivors of an explosion at the Continental Grain Elevator Company in Westwego, Louisiana. En route to Air Station New Orleans, the helicopter was diverted to the disaster area and immediately began to search the Mississippi River for survivors of the catastrophe. Upon confirming that no survivors were in the river, Lieutenant Commander Scott landed the aircraft near the burning silos where a severely burned man was taken on board and transferred to a nearby hospital. Returning to the scene, he was advised that a man was trapped on top of one of the silos. Proceeding to the silo, Lieutenant Commander Scott established the helicopter in a stable hover 150 – feet above the ground, despite severe updrafts, turbulence from the flames and the silo’s protruding wreckage, On the third attempt to hoist the man, an explosion occurred and smoke and flames completely enveloped the man, Rescue firemen were then able to reach the now semi-conscious man and move him so that he could be safely hoisted and airlifted to the hospital. Lieutenant Commander Scott’s innovative actions, expert aeronautical skill and valor throughout this rescue mission resulted in the successful evacuation of the two men. 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.

The President of the United States of America takes pleasure in presenting the Distinguished Flying Cross to Lieutenant Commander David I. Scott, United States Coast Guard, for extraordinary achievement while participating in aerial flight on the morning of 25 February 1975 as Aircraft Commander and Pilot of Coast Guard HH-3F 1480 helicopter engaged in the successful evacuation of a critically ill crewman from the East German F/V Bernard Kellernan, located sixty miles southeast of Cape Cod, Massachusetts. Dispatched from Air Station Cape Cod, Lieutenant Commander Scott was forced to proceed to the scene using only aircraft instruments due to darkness and heavy fog, which reduced visibility to a minimum throughout the flight. After arriving on scene and establishing communications with the vessel, Lieutenant Commander Scott positioned the helicopter in a hover above the confined hoisting area, which was surrounded by antennas and masts partially obscured by the fog, while the patient was hoisted aboard. Departing the scene immediately, the already poor weather deteriorated as the aircraft approached its destination. Realizing the delay required to fly to the nearest suitable alternate site would seriously jeopardize the life of the ill crewman and, despite the exhausting ordeal to which he had already been subjected, Lieutenant Commander Scott skillfully and expertly executed an instrument approach to the lowest authorized altitude, sighted the airfield and made the landing. The patient was then transferred to an awaiting ambulance for treatment to a hospital. Lieutenant Commander Scott’s innovative actions, expert aeronautical skills and dauntless valor throughout this perilous mission resulted in saving the life of the crewman. His heroic courage, sound judgment and unwavering devotion to duty are in keeping with the highest traditions of the United States Coast Guard.