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 Captain (Field Artillery) James R. Sulpizi (ASN: 0-2270241), United States Army, for heroism while participating in aerial flight as an Army Aviator assigned with Headquarters and Headquarters Detachment, Delaware Army National Guard, Wilmington, Delaware, on 7 March 1962, at Indian River, Delaware. During a disastrous storm and flood that struck the Delaware coast, Captain Sulpizi unhesitatingly volunteered to fly the only available aircraft, a one-passenger H-13 helicopter, to rescue personnel in danger of drowning from rising flood waters at the Indian River Coast Guard Station. With complete disregard for his own personal safety, and by skillfully piloting his aircraft through violent atmospheric turbulence that normally would preclude all flight operations, he courageously made ten round-trip rescue missions of approximately nine miles each way. Although Gale force winds rendered the operation of the small helicopter extremely hazardous, he successfully rescued five persons from the Coast Guard Station. By continuing in his efforts, he evacuated five other victims who were clinging to trucks awash in the treacherous floodwaters. The single-handed dangerous rescue missions continued over a period of several hours and ended only after a larger helicopter arrived to evacuate the remaining flood victims. Captain Sulpizi’s strong determination, presence of mind, and heroic action in this emergency that saved the lives of ten persons, reflect great credit on himself and military service.