The President of the United States of America, authorized by Act of Congress July 9, 1918, takes pleasure in presenting the Distinguished Service Cross (Air Force) to Captain Donald Nichols (AFSN_ AO-956185), United States Air Force, for extraordinary heroism in connection with military operations against an armed enemy of the United Nations while serving with the Office of Special Investigations, in action against enemy forces in the Republic of Korea on 17 April 1951. Accompanied by five Korean specialists, Captain Nichols proceeded behind enemy lines in an unarmed helicopter to procure material of important intelligence value. Despite fragmentation hits scored on the engine and intense anti-aircraft and automatic weapons fire encountered over hostile territory, Captain Nichols, determined to complete the assignment, directed the mission to continue. Landing in an area only a few miles from a major enemy supply depot Captain Nichols coolly and efficiently photographed the material, recorded all inscriptions and technical data, and supervised dismantlement of vital parts and loaded them aboard the helicopter. Although receiving heavy, accurate enemy fire on the return flight to friendly territory and suffering serious damage to a rotor blade, the crippled aircraft limped out to sea and, after flying eighty miles over the Yellow Sea along the Korean coast, made an emergency landing on a friendly island from which the group was subsequently evacuated. Captain Nichols voluntarily risked his life to wrest information of inestimable value from the very grasp of the enemy. The extraordinary heroism displayed by Captain Nichols on this occasion reflects the greatest credit on himself and is in keeping with the high traditions of the military service.