The President of the United States of America, authorized by Act of Congress, July 9, 1918 (amended by act of July 25, 1963), takes pleasure in presenting the Distinguished Service Cross to Chief Warrant Officer (WO-2), [then Warrant Officer WO-1] Robert B. Rogers, United States Army, for extraordinary heroism in connection with military operations involving conflict with an armed hostile force in the Republic of Vietnam, while serving with Headquarters and Headquarters Troop, 7th Squadron, 17th Air Cavalry Regiment, 17th Aviation Group, 1st Aviation Brigade. Chief Warrant Officer Two Rogers distinguished himself by exceptionally valorous actions on 2 November 1969 while commanding a transport helicopter during a rescue operation near the Duc Lap Special Forces camp. Responding to an urgent request to evacuate crewmen from downed United States helicopters, Warrant Officer Rogers and his crew sped to the contact area and discovered that the selected landing zone was vulnerable to fire from enemy positions. Undaunted, Mister Rogers maneuvered his aircraft into the pickup site. Upon receiving intense enemy machine gun and automatic weapons fire which wounded the co-pilot and heavily damaged his helicopter, Warrant Officer Rogers was forced to abort the rescue attempt. Skillfully maintaining control of his crippled aircraft, Mister Rogers flew it back to the friendly camp at Duc Lap where he made an emergency landing. After learning that allied ground troops engaged in bitter fighting with the adversary needed immediate evacuation, Warrant Officer Rogers unhesitatingly volunteered to fly his damaged craft back to the contact area in darkness and without the aid of navigation lights. Although receiving a deluge of hostile anti-aircraft fire as he approached the location of the friendly troops, Mister Rogers continued into the pickup zone and safely extracted seven infantrymen, transporting them to near facilities. Then the determined Mister Rogers returned once again to the conflict area in search of additional downed airmen. Spotting a flashing strobe light used by comrades on the ground, Warrant Officer Rogers fearlessly descended amid a barrage of enemy bullets and remained on station until the downed crewman was safely aboard. Still under heavy fire, Warrant Officer Rogers took evasive measures, maneuvering his badly crippled ship out of the combat zone. Miraculously, Mister Rogers maintained complete control of this aircraft despite the extensive damage it had sustained and successfully guided it back to his base. Mister Rogers’ skill and determined professionalism were instrumental in saving the lives of eight of his compatriots. Chief Warrant Officer Two Rogers’ extraordinary heroism and devotion to duty were in keeping with the highest traditions of the military service and reflect great credit upon himself, his unit, and the United States Army.