The President of the United States of America takes pleasure in presenting the Distinguished Flying Cross to Lieutenant Commander Stewart R. Graham, United States Coast Guard, for extraordinary achievement in aerial flight during the early morning of 19 January 1955, as pilot of a Coast Guard helicopter engaged in the rescue of three crew members from the fishing vessel KIMTOO, which had grounded southwest of Anna Maria Key, Florida, in the Gulf of Mexico. Proceeding to the scene, Lieutenant Commander Graham succeeded in locating the vessel by effectively using the helicopter landing lights. Due to heavy seas and violent winds, it was necessary that the survivors be rescued without delay. In spite of the fact that guy lines and rigging of the vessel could not be removed, Lieutenant Commander Graham, by his indomitable courage and determination in the face of unfavorable conditions of wind, sea, turbulence, and darkness so that the rescue basket could be lowered into the maze of rigging on the deck of the stricken vessel and a survivor hoisted into the helicopter. This dangerous procedure was then twice repeated as the survivors were expertly evacuated from their positions of extreme peril. Lieutenant Commander Graham’s expert airmanship, dauntless valor, sound judgment, and unwavering devotion to duty reflect the highest credit upon himself and the United States Coast Guard.