The President of the United States of America takes pleasure in presenting the Distinguished Flying Cross to Commander Milton J. Chewning, United States Navy, for extraordinary achievement while participating in aerial flight as Division Leader of a flight of four A-4E Skyhawks on an armed reconnaissance mission on 31 January 1966. Commander Chewning, despite low ceilings and limited visibility, led his division on low-altitude bombing and rocket attacks on the ferry landing south of Dong Hoi, North Vietnam, which inflicted heavy damage and started numerous secondary fires. Intense anti-aircraft artillery fire in the target area resulted in major damage to one aircraft in the flight and the loss of the section leader’s aircraft. Disregarding his own safety, Commander Chewning conducted numerous low-altitude searching passes in the area until the pilot was rescued after nearly an hour in the water.