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 Frank Lewis Hines, United States Air Force, for extraordinary achievement while participating in aerial flight as an AC-47 Aircraft Commander near Go Dau Ha, Republic of Vietnam, on 22 December 1968. On that date, Major Hines defended a United States Army outpost that was under intense mortar attack and serious ground assaults by a hostile force. Major Hines, in the face of intense and visible hostile ground fire, continued a relentless attack that silenced both the mortar positions and anti-aircraft gun sites which permitted fighter strikes to deliver their ordnance with minimal ground fire. The professional competence, aerial skill, and devotion to duty displayed by Major Hines reflect great credit upon himself and the United States Air Force.