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) John Raughley Collins (ASN: W-3160163), United States Army, for heroism while participating in aerial flight evidenced by voluntary action above and beyond the call of duty in the Republic of Vietnam on 17 November 1968. Warrant Officer Collins distinguished himself while serving as aircraft commander of a UH-1H helicopter, supporting a Special Forces operation in the vicinity of Khe Sanh, Republic of Vietnam. Warrant Officer Collins’ aircraft was number three in a flight of three inserting a large element of Special Forces personnel into an area of suspected enemy activity. Within minutes, the element was in contact with the enemy and unable to move more than a few meters beyond the landing zone. Within a few hours, it became apparent that the team would have to be extracted by dark. Despite repeated air strikes by tactical fighter aircraft and helicopter gunships, the team was still pinned down by the enemy. The extraction began with the first two aircraft getting in and out of the landing zone safely. They reported that they had to hover at about four feet while the troops scrambled aboard. Both aircraft received heavy fire in the landing zone and the team reported the fire to be increasing. Without hesitation, Warrant Officer Collins skillfully hovered the aircraft motionless as the troops climbed aboard. He was receiving heavy enemy fire, but he remained in the landing zone until his aircraft was fully loaded. He then brought his heavily loaded aircraft out of the landing zone. As the aircraft cleared the trees around the landing zone, it was struck repeatedly by enemy fire. This caused a severe vibration that increased with the airspeed. Warrant Officer Collins radioed the Command and Control aircraft and informed it that he would be unable to continue flight much longer. The vibrations became more severe and shook the radio console loose from the instrument panel. He immediately informed the other aircraft he would have to land as soon as possible. After a careful approach, he succeeded in landing his aircraft safely in a clearing. Warrant Officer Collins’ outstanding flying ability 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.