The President of the United States of America, authorized by Act of Congress, July 2, 1926, takes pleasure in presenting the Distinguished Flying Cross to Sergeant Howard D. Guthre, United States Army, for heroism while participating in aerial flight, evidenced by voluntary actions above and beyond the call of duty in the Republic of Vietnam. Sergeant Guthre distinguished himself by exceptionally valorous actions on 8 November 1967 while serving as medical aidman aboard an ambulance helicopter on a rescue mission near Dong Tam. An armored convoy had been savagely ambushed in the night by the Viet Cong and had suffered several casualties. Sergeant Guthre immediately volunteered to accompany the flight to the scene of the battle, and intense enemy rocket, machine gun and automatic weapons fire raked the area as the ship arrived. After the craft landed under blackout conditions to decrease the possibility of being hit by the ravaging barrage, Sergeant Guthre leaped from the helicopter into a hail of bullets and moved to load the casualties. The ground situation was disorganized due to darkness and the intensity of the attack, but he remained calm and selected the most seriously wounded to be evacuated first. When the helicopter was loaded to capacity, he boarded it and treated the wounded on the flight to the hospital. Twice more during the night, he returned to the area under extremely intense fire and loaded casualties aboard. Ignoring his safety, he always placed the welfare of his fellow soldiers first in the heat of battle. His fearless actions were responsible for the rapid evacuation of twenty-three seriously wounded men. Sergeant Guthre’s outstanding courage and devotion to duty were in keeping with the highest traditions of the military service and reflect great credit upon himself, his unit, and the United States Army.