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) Rexford D. Smith, 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, while serving with the 82d Medical Detachment, 45th Medical Company, 68th Medical Group, United States Army Medical Command, Vietnam (Provisional). Warrant Officer Smith distinguished himself late on the night of 28 December 1969 while commanding a helicopter ambulance during a rescue mission in Vinh Long Province. He had been requested to evacuate two American advisors seriously wounded when their Vietnamese Army outpost was encircled and attacked by enemy elements armed with mortars and automatic weapons. Coordinating cover fire from helicopter gunships already on station, Warrant Officer Smith made as approach of the besieged outpost but was driven off by heavy volumes of automatic weapons fire. Four more times, from varying directions, Warrant Officer Smith tried to bring his air ambulance into the emergency pickup site, but each time he was met by heavy enemy fire and was forced to abort his approach. On his sixth attempt, he made a straight descent from a high altitude and brought his aircraft to a hover over the emergency landing zone. Before the wounded could be boarded, however, a hail of automatic weapons and mortar fire rained down on the unarmed aircraft. Warrant Officer Smith lifted off hastily and returned to his base of operation to assess damages to his aircraft. Shortly after, he returned to the besieged outpost and successfully evacuated the two wounded Americans. Warrant Officer Smith’s outstanding flying ability 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.