The President of the United States of America takes pleasure in presenting the Distinguished Flying Cross to Commander Robert R. King, Jr., United States Navy, for extraordinary achievement while participating in aerial flight in connection with military operations against the enemy during a combat strike against targets in North Vietnam on 22 April 1965. With the target area defended by one of the heaviest concentrations of anti-aircraft batteries in North Vietnam, Commander King led a strike group of fourteen aircraft against camouflaged enemy patrol boats and large junks hidden along a rive bank near Vinh. Through his carefully considered plan of attack, the entire strike group entered the target area, delivered its attack and retired before the enemy anti-aircraft defense could be brought into action. During the attack, two junks and four patrol boats were hit. Commander King’s plan of attack, executed with precision under his direction, was the key to the successful accomplishment of the mission.