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 Warrant Officer (W-1) Steven C. Nilmeier (ASN: W-3158611), United States Army, for heroism while participating in aerial flight evidenced by voluntary action above and beyond the call of duty while serving with the 189th Assault Helicopter Company, 1st Aviation Brigade, in the Republic of Vietnam on 21 September 1968. Warrant Officer Nilmeier distinguished himself by exceptionally valorous actions while serving as air mission commander on an unarmed helicopter during a combat assault west of Plei Merong. When a helicopter was shot down into a mountain top landing zone by an enemy rocket, exploding ammunition from the burning wreckage endangered the lives of the crew and nearby infantrymen. With complete disregard for his own safety, Warrant Officer Nilmeier hovered his helicopter over the wreckage to deliver a fire extinguisher. While hovering, his ship was struck by an enemy B-40 rocket, crashed, and burned. Though wounded himself, he helped rescue the injured battalion commander and critically wounded gunner from the wreckage. He then boarded another helicopter in the flight and persisted in his duties as air mission commander, in spite of a painful eye wound and shrapnel in his arms and legs. His actions were in keeping with the highest traditions of the military service and reflect great credit upon himself, his unit and the United States Army.