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 Warrant Officer One (WO-1) Raymond J. Lanclos (ASN: W-3160067), United States Army, for heroism while participating in aerial flight evidenced by voluntary action above and beyond the call of duty on 23 January 1969 while serving as an aircraft commander in a AH-1G COBRA gunship with the Air Cavalry Troop of the 11th Armored Cavalry Regiment, in the Republic of Vietnam. On this date in the vicinity of Bien Hoa, Warrant Officer Lanclos’ aircraft was directed to an area of dense jungle where an enemy unit of company size had been engaged by friendly forces. Upon reaching the scene of the fierce engagement, Warrant Officer Lanclos maneuvered his aircraft into a low level assault while his gunner unleashed a highly accurate barrage of fire upon the enemy. Again and again he directed his aircraft through intense enemy fire in order to direct his aircraft’s fire power upon the hostile positions. After expending all his ordnance, he returned to base, rearmed, refueled and returned to the area of contact. Upon learning that the friendly ground forces had been pinned down by the intense enemy small arms and automatic weapons fire, he initiated a strafing run over the enemy positions, thereby permitting the friendly unit to withdraw and call in air and artillery strikes. Warrant Officer Lanclos’ dedication to duty and disregard of personal safety were in keeping with the highest traditions of the military service and reflect great credit upon himself, his unit and the United States Army.