The President of the United States of America, authorized by Act of Congress, July 2, 1926, takes pleasure in presenting the Distinguished Flying Cross to Major Robert E. Carraway, United States Air Force, for extraordinary achievement while participating in aerial flight as Aircraft Commander, 71st Expeditionary Rescue Squadron, 438th Air Expeditionary Wing at a classified location on 20 January 2002. On that date, while providing combat search and rescue support for Operation ENDURING FREEDOM, Major Carraway participated in the rescue and recovery of the crew of Big Iran 04, a United States Marine Corps helicopter that crashed into a mountain in eastern Afghanistan. During the course of the long-range mission, Major Carraway and the crew of Fever 12 accomplished three demanding air refuelings in Afghanistan for a two-ship of HH-60 rescue helicopters at altitudes as low as 170 feet and as slow as 100 knots due to limited helicopter performance in the high mountainous terrain. During the first air refueling, Major Carraway’s crew observed small arms fire from the reported Al-Qaeda and Taliban positions, and maneuvered the formation away from danger while continuing toward the objective area. Following the second air refueling, Major Carraway’s aircraft did not possess sufficient fuel to complete a required third refueling. While coordinating with command and control to launch a second HC-130, Major Carraway and the crew computed the absolute minimum fuel requirement for their aircraft, and provided the HH-60 flight with enough fuel to sustain them until the second HC-130 arrived. Major Carraway then safely recovered his aircraft, landing with below minimum fuel remaining. The professional competence, aerial skill, and devotion to duty displayed by Major Carraway reflect great credit upon himself and the United States Air Force.