The President of the United States of America takes pride in presenting a Gold Star in lieu of a Second Award of the Distinguished Flying Cross (Posthumously) to Lieutenant Commander James Dennis Stiles, United States Coast Guard, for extraordinary achievement while participating in aerial flight on the night of 17 February and the early morning of 18 February 1979 white serving as pilot and aircraft commander of Coast Guard HH-3F 1432 engaged in the perilous attempt to rescue a severely injured seaman from the Japanese fishing vessel KAISEI MARU NO. 18 which was located 210 miles southeast of Cape Cod, Massachusetts. Upon notification that a MEDEVAC was needed, Lieutenant Commander Stiles piloted the helicopter toward a rendezvous with a Coast Guard HC- 130 aircraft which had been dispatched to pinpoint the location of KAISEI MARU NO. 18. While en route, flying through heavy turbulence, high winds and snow showers, an updated position location for KAISEI MARU NO. 18 placed the vessel beyond the range of the helicopter, forcing Lieutenant Stiles to return to Coast Guard Air Station Cape Cod. Receiving a further update on the vessel’s location, Lieutenant Commander Stiles again piloted the aircraft through the deteriorating weather and located the wildly pitching vessel. After a demanding approach to the surface was executed, a tending line for the rescue litter failed when the line parted due to the motion of the vessel, and a second attempt failed due to the high winds. Before another attempt could be made, a mechanical malfunction occurred. Reacting immediately, Lieutenant Commander Stiles guided the crippled helicopter to the water in a level, controlled attitude. Upon reaching the surface, the turbulent seas capsized the aircraft, trapping Lieutenant Commander Stiles and three of the crewmen. Lieutenant Commander Stiles’ innovative actions, expert aeronautical skill and valor, while sacrificing his own life, enabled one of the aircrewmen to escape. His courage, fortitude and unwavering devotion to duty are most heartily commended and were in keeping with the highest traditions of the United States Coast Guard.

The President of the United States of America takes pleasure in presenting the Distinguished Flying Cross to Lieutenant James Dennis Stiles, United States Coast Guard, for extraordinary achievement while participating in aerial flight on the afternoon and evening of 1 March 1977 while serving as pilot and aircraft commander of Coast Guard HH-3F 1493 helicopter engaged in the perilous rescue of four crewmen from the fishing vessel VIKING ROVER which was disabled and sinking 43 miles south of Cape Sarichef, Alaska. Dispatched from Air Station Kodiak, the aircraft proceeded 475 miles to the scene, despite ceilings as low as 100-feet, visibility reduced to one-half mile in heavy snow showers, airframe icing and winds gusting to 70 knots. Arriving on scene, Lieutenant STILKS observed the distressed vessel foundering without steerage and progressively flooding in 20-foot seas which had already carried away the ship’s only life raft. Lieutenant Stiles then established a precise hover over the bow of VIKING ROVER, despite the violent motion of the ship and rigging and severe buffeting of the aircraft by turbulent gust while the hoist operator hoisted the four hapless crewmen into the helicopter. When the survivors were secured, Lieutenant Stiles piloted the aircraft through increasing turbulence and gathering darkness toward Coast Guard Loran Station Cape Sarichef. Upon locating the Loran Station by the building lights, Lieutenant Stiles landed the helicopter in a clear area near the Station as the runway was obliterated by the blowing snow. Lieutenant Stiles’ innovative actions, expert aeronautical skill, and dauntless valor throughout this perilous mission resulted in the successful rescue of the four crewmen. His courage sound judgment and unwavering devotion to duty are most heartily commended and are in keeping with the highest traditions of the United States Coast Guard.