The President of the United States of America takes pleasure in presenting the Distinguished Flying Cross to Lieutenant Greg B. Breithaupt, United States Coast Guard, for extraordinary heroism during aerial flight on the night of 10 December 1987 as Co-Pilot of Coast Guard HH-3F 1486 engaged in the perilous rescue of a man and his son from the F/V BLUEBIRD which sank in storm tossed waters 10 miles southwest of Sitka, Alaska. Lieutenant Breithaupt skillfully navigated through a blinding snowstorm with severe turbulence to locate the stricken 26-foot fishing vessel, foundering in 30-foot seas. As the helicopter hovered over the wildly pitching vessel, it was rocket by several violent 70-know wind gusts. The helicopter pitched up uncontrollably and the tail rotor dipped perilously close to the breaking waves. On three occasions, Lieutenant Breithaupt’s timely flight control assistance saved the helicopter from crashing into the raging sea. When rescue from the doomed vessel proved impossible, he convince the victims, clad in survival suits, to jump into the frigid water just before their vessel sank. The rescue swimmer was deployed and, with great difficulty, the survivors were plucked from certain death in the towering seas. Lieutenant Breithaupt expertly guided the now battered helicopter back to Sitka and delivered the survivors to safety. Lieutenant Breithaupt’s actions, aeronautical skill, and valor were instrumental in the rescue of the victims. His courage, judgment, and devotion to duty are most heartily commended and are in keeping with the highest traditions of the United States Coast Guard.