(Citation Needed) – SYNOPSIS: The President of the United States of America, authorized by Act of Congress July 9, 1918, takes pleasure in presenting the Distinguished Service Cross to Second Lieutenant (Air Corps) Cecil Hugh Dawkins, United States Army Air Forces, for extraordinary heroism in connection with military operations against an armed enemy while serving as Pilot of a C-47 Transport aircraft in the 310th Troop Carrier Squadron, 443d Troop Carrier Group, NINTH Air Force, during an air mission on 21 September 1944, in Holland. Second Lieutenant Dawkins was transporting Polish paratroopers who were to jump into holland in support of Operation Market Garden. As the squadron crossed the Drop Zone at Nijmegen they encountered heavy flank, exacerbated by the steady loss of altitude due to the slow exit of the paratroopers from the aircraft. Several aircraft were heavily damaged and several others were shot down, including Second Lieutenant Dawkins Troop Transport airplane. Second Lieutenant Dawkins’ unquestionable valor in aerial combat is in keeping with the highest traditions of the military service and reflects great credit upon himself and the United States Army Air Forces.