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 Second Lieutenant (Air Corps) Ralph J. Madsen, United States Army Air Forces, for extraordinary achievement while participating in operational flights totaling more than two hundred hours in unarmed, heavily loaded transport airplanes, during which exposure to enemy fire was probable and expected during World War II. During the periods indicated, they have completed flights from bases in Upper Assan, providing food, clothing, mail, medicinal supplies, and material to our forward elements, and to those of our Indian, British and Chinese Allies in the hills and mountains of Upper Burma. Undaunted by the hazards faced regularly and continuously, they performed their duties in such a manner that the highest credit is reflected upon themselves and the military forces of the United States.