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 Staff Sergeant Daniel J. Hayes, United States Air Force, for extraordinary achievement while participating in aerial flight as C130H Flight Engineer, 386th Expeditionary Airlift Squadron, 386th Expeditionary Operations Group, 386th Air Expeditionary Wing, Ali Al Salem, Kuwait, on 26 October 2004. On that date, as Flight Engineer on an operation IRAQI FREEDOM counterinsurgency sustainment mission to a recently attacked airfield in Mosul, Iraq, Sergeant Hayes’ aircraft was, immediately after departing the airport and without warning, struck by an enemy surface-to-air missile. Quickly assessing the major engine and structural damage and advising the Aircraft Commander on affected systems, Sergeant Hayes flawlessly executed and coordinated multiple emergency procedures and checklists that ensured the aircraft remained capable of flight. After stabilizing the remaining engines and performing actions critical to extinguishing a fire that had enveloped the shutdown engine and spread across the wing, he coordinated with the pilot to evaluate aircraft controllability and proper landing configuration, thus ensuring a safe recovery at a nearby emergency airfield. As a result of this systems expertise and precise coordination, the aircraft was successfully recovered in just minutes after receiving crippling enemy fire, thereby saving the lives of all 63 crewmembers and soldiers on board. The professional competence, aerial skill, and devotion to duty displayed by Sergeant Hayes reflect great credit upon himself and the United States Air Force.