The President of the United States of America takes pleasure in presenting the Distinguished Flying Cross to Lieutenant Kenneth E. Cotton (NSN: 0-106174), United States Naval Reserve, for extraordinary achievement while participating in aerial flight while escorting an air group at Kwajalein Atoll on 4 December 1943. Lieutenant Cotton shot down two enemy planes in flames and contributed materially to the success of his group in destroying 19 Zeros and one twin-engine bomber in the air and the probable destruction of two other fighters.