Veteran Organization | The Distinguished Flying Cross Society

Coast Guard rescue swimmer and DFCS member Scott Ruskan will receive the 2026 Pat Tillman Award for serviceat the ESPY's for his heroic actions during the Camp Mystic flood rescue.

He was on his first-ever rescue mission, just six months after completing training. As one of a four person crew, he was flown into Camp Mystic which had been ravaged by unprecedented flooding.

Ruskan was lowered to the scene where he coordinated the rescues of over 165 your girls left stranded by the devastating floods.

AST2 Ruskan and pilot Lieutenant Ian Hopper both received the Distinguished Flying Cross for their efforts to rescue the Camp Mystic campers.

Scholarship Awards Update

The Scholarship Committee met to review the 19 applications that were received prior to May 31st. Fourteen applications were for academic scholarships and four were for vocational/technical training. After completing their review, the Committee recommended that all 19 applicants receive scholarships. The DFCS Board agreed to fund all of the applicants, thanks to all our members and donors who have continued to support this important program.

Every recipient is a descendant of a Distinguished Flying Cross Society member. By supporting their educational and career goals, we honor the sacrifices of previous generations while helping develop the leaders of tomorrow.

Reunion Update - 22 March 2026

Registration for our 53rd Annual Real Reunion is now live, and available for your review. We listened to your feedback from last year's Reunion, and I wanted to call out a few details that I hope meet your approval:

THURSDAY - DFCS hosted buffet with guest speaker

FRIDAY'S FLIGHT SUIT PARTY - We listened to your feedback from last year, and are providing the option of registering with round-trip bus service or without. Also, the cost of the party includes self-serve beer and wine as opposed to waiting in lines at s cash bar.

TACTICS CONFERENCES - Instead of three back-to-back seminars, we will host one TC per day. This should improve attendance and make planning easier for attendees. If you're interested in presenting a TC this year, please send your proposal to me at irish@river-rats.org.

ONLINE REGISTRATION - We've created a stand-alone secure site to submit your online registrations. Initial feedback has been that this new site is much more user friendly than last year's. Our host platform is Zeffy, a system designed especially for nonprofits. While there is no cost for us to use Zeffy, the system does prompt users to make a voluntary donation at the end of the registration process.

For more information, please check the link below:

Before the 747: The Wild Fleet That Made Air Force One

How eight decades of unlikely aircraft, from a wartime flying boat to a B-24 bomber, built the presidency in the sky.

James Wynbrandt | June 2026

It’s routine now: The President emerges from Air Force One, one more frame in an endless loop of ritual arrivals. But the protocols and photo op, the mission procedures and famous call sign, are all legacies of aviation’s presidential pioneers — the platforms and presidents who forged this flight path well before the current generation of 747-based VC-25 Air Force Ones entered service in 1990.

With U-Boats menacing the Atlantic, Franklin Roosevelt became the first sitting President to fly, journeying to the Casablanca Conference in (then) French Morocco in 1943. A Boeing 314 flying boat, “Dixie Clipper,” operated by Pan American World Airways, took Roosevelt from Miami to West Africa. A Douglas C-54 Skymaster DC-4-based transport, using a crewman from Transcontinental & Western Air (TWA’s predecessor), flew the final overland leg. Wartime censorship rules and a compliant press kept the 22-day mission secret, but once reported, the fait accompli validated the necessity and feasibility of presidential air travel.

Shortly after, the United States Army Air Forces (USAAF) established what would evolve into the Presidential Airlift Group, now under the 89th Airlift Wing at Joint Base Andrews, Maryland, to manage the Commander in Chief’s air transport.

The History of the Distinguished Flying Cross Medal

The Distinguished Flying Cross, authorized by an Act of Congress of July 2, 1926 (amended by Executive Order 7786 on Jan. 8, 1938), was awarded first to Capt. Charles A. Lindbergh, of the U.S. Army Corps Reserve, for his solo flight of 3,600 miles across the Atlantic in 1927, a feat which electrified the world and made Lindbergh one of America's most popular heroes.

The Distinguished Flying Cross was designed by Elizabeth Will and Arthur E. DuBois. It is a bronze cross pattee, with rays between the arms of the cross. On the obverse is a propeller of four blades, with one blade in each arm of the cross and in the re-entrant angles of the cross are rays which form a square. The cross is suspended by a rectangular-shaped bar and centered on this is a plain shield. The reverse is blank and suitable for engraving the recipient's name and rank.

The "C" device was established to distinguish an award earned for exceptionally meritorious service or achievement performed under combat conditions on or after Jan. 7,

The "V" device is worn on decorations to denote valor, an act or acts of heroism by an individual above what is normally expected while engaged in direct combat with an enemy of the United States, or an opposing foreign or armed force, with exposure to enemy hostilities and personal risk.

1984 - U.S. Coast Guard Rescue Swimmer Program Established

By Lieutenant Commander Fred Wright, USCG (retired)

At approximately 0400 on Saturday, 12 February 1983 the M/V Marine Electric sent a distress call. The vessel was taking on water and sinking off the Virginia coast in 20– 40 foot seas with winds in excess of 60 knots. The Rescue Coordination Center Portsmouth alerted the Navy at NAS Oceana and the Coast Guard Air Station at Elizabeth City. The ready HH-3F helicopter from Coast Guard Air Station Elizabeth City was immediately dispatched. It was one hour-fifteen minutes enroute in freezing rain. By the time the helicopter arrived the ship had sunk and 34 people were now desperately fighting for their lives in the frigid waters. The rescue basket was prepared and lowered but numbed by severe hypothermia the men were unable to grab the basket and pull themselves in. The Navy helicopter, with a rescue swimmer, was delayed because NAS Oceana did not keep a ready-crew on board the station at night but due to a shorter enroute time to the scene the Navy H-3 helicopter arrived on scene just shortly after the Coast Guard. The Navy swimmer immediately deployed but had difficulty with the “Billy Pugh” net collapsing in the rough seas. The two crews agreed to have the rescue swimmer work with a rigid basket lowered from the Coast Guard helicopter. For over an hour, both aircraft, supplemented by a second HH-3F out of Elizabeth City, positioned themselves to receive survivors. The Navy rescue swimmer swam to the point of exhaustion in 40-foot seas in his effort to save as many as he could. Conditions were so severe and the temperatures so cold that sea water on his facemask froze. A number of hoists were made but only three persons were recovered alive. Tragically a total of 31 crewmen perished.

DFCS Low Country Chapter visits Hunter Army Airfield

The DFCS Low Country Chapter visited Hunter Army Airfield near Savannah GA on Thursday, April 30th. Eight chapter members, spouses and even one grown son, received an informative briefing on the simulator unit. The group then toured an Apache helicopter on the ramp and then tried their hand at “flying” various choppers in their state-of- the-art simulators including AH-64 Apache, UH-60 Blackhawk and CH-47 Chinook.

These simulators train pilots from all over with their cadre of instructors serving forces in the U.S. Central Command area of responsibility (CENTCOM).

For more pictures, view the Low Country Chapter page on the DFCS site or the DFCS Chapter website

Jason Quinn, DFC recipient and DFCS member, is an experienced Coast Guard Rescue Swimmer (#500) and the creator and host of The Real ResQ — the ultimate podcast for inspiring stories of everyday heroes who risk their lives so others may live.

After years of operating in high-pressure search and rescue environments, Jason recognized something powerful: the public sees the headlines — but rarely hears the full story.

The Real ResQ was built to change that.

Through candid, in-depth conversations with rescue swimmers, aviation crews, hoist operators, flight mechanics, and first responders from around the world, Jason brings listeners inside the mission. From routine medevacs to dark and stormy night rescues, every episode reveals the mindset, teamwork, and courage required when the stakes are life and death.

Jason’s approach is honest and unfiltered. He explores not only the heroics, but also the doubt, the stress, the lessons learned, and the moments that stay with rescuers long after the mission ends.

This isn’t dramatized storytelling.
It’s real experience — told by the people who lived it

Voice for Valor is a long-form interview podcast. Every episode is one guest, one conversation, no time limit. We talk to combat veterans, 9/11 first responders, Pentagon leaders, military families, and the people who carried the weight alongside those who served.

These are not highlight reels. We go past the biography and into the conviction underneath the career — the moments no one clapped for, the decisions that cost something, and the stories that don't fit inside a medal citation.

Michael Komorous is a retired U.S. Air Force officer, data analytics specialist, and founder of Alpha Zulu Solutions. He built Voice for Valor because the best stories about service aren't the ones that get told on stage — they're the ones that come out two hours into a conversation when the guest finally stops performing.

Mike brings a researcher's instinct and an operator's frame to every interview. He does his homework, asks the questions most interviewers skip, and lets the silence do the work.

Distinguished Flying Cross Society Recognizes Month of the Military Child

The Distinguished Flying Cross Society proudly recognizes April as the Month of the Military Child, a time dedicated to honoring the strength, resilience, and sacrifices of children in military families.

For generations, the sons and daughters of our nation’s service members have demonstrated remarkable courage and adaptability. They face frequent relocations, extended separations from loved ones, and the unique challenges that come with military life — all while continuing to grow, learn, and support their families with quiet strength.

As an organization committed to preserving the legacy of valor represented by recipients of the Distinguished Flying Cross, we also recognize the vital role military families play in supporting those who serve. Behind every act of heroism is a family that shares in the commitment and sacrifice. Military children, in particular, embody resilience and patriotism beyond their years.

During this Month of the Military Child, we encourage our members and communities to honor these young heroes — whether by participating in “Purple Up” events, offering words of appreciation, or simply recognizing their important role in the strength of our armed forces.

The Distinguished Flying Cross Society extends its deepest gratitude to military children everywhere. Your strength inspires us, and your sacrifices do not go unnoticed.

Naval Helicopter Association

May 11th - 15th 2026

NHA Symposium

The Naval Helicopter Association (NHA) Symposium is the premier annual gathering of the rotary-wing and tilt-rotor aviation community, bringing together active-duty personnel, veterans, industry leaders, government representatives and aviation enthusiasts.

This symposium serves as a dynamic forum to exchange ideas, showcase innovation, and strengthen the operational and professional excellence of robust schedule of panels, technical briefings, keynote addresses, and networking events. Attendees will explore current challenges, emerging technologies, and the future of vertical lift.

More than just an event, the NHA Symposium reflects our enduring mission: to preserve the legacy, advance the capabilities, and celebrate the people who make up the Naval rotary-wing and tilt-rotor community.

MARINE FIGHTER FORAY 2026

The MARINE FIGHTER FORAY is on the flight schedule for October 14 – 18, 2026. The Foray will be at the same location as the 2022 Phantom Phoray: Hyatt Regency Dallas, 300 Reunion Blvd, Dallas, TX 75207

(https://www.hyatt.com/hyatt-regency/en-US/dfwrd-hyatt-regency-dallas)

And… the Foray is not just for air crew. We highly encourage any and all Marine enlisted, officer, maintenance, admin, support and family members of the Marine fighter community to attend. Also, if your squadron already holds squadron reunions, consider piggybacking off the Foray and have your reunion concurrent with the Foray in Dallas. Contact the Foray Ops O for details.

The Marine Fighter Foray schedule and venue will replicate the 2022 Phantom Phoray, only much larger since the Foray is being opened up to all Marine Fighter communities. There will be:

Symposiums
F-18 and F-35 status and combat deployment briefs to include Iran-Iraq and Afghanistan battle strategies and operations; and
of course… individual “There I was” stories/yarns/tales
Flight jacket / squadron shirts happy hours
Squadron dinners and photos
Marine Corps University Interviews
Professional Group Displays (Martin Baker ejection seats, Lockheed Martin F-35, Top Gun, Distinguished Flying Cross Society)
Golf tournament

On December 22, the Wall Street Journal published an article about retired Navy Captain Royce Willams who will soon receive the Medal of Honor:

"Buried in a recent 3,000-page defense policy bill is good news that won’t receive enough attention. The legislation would allow a living legend of naval aviation to receive the nation’s highest military honor. A Defense Department video called 100-year-old Royce Williams the “forgotten fighter ace of the Korean war.” His valor is worth remembering on its merits, and the history is instructive about the threats now facing the U.S. President Trump should move quickly to award Capt. Williams the medal of honor."

Task & Purpose published the following article that provides background about the actions leading to the final decision to award Captain Williams the Medal of Honor:

Nicholas Slayton

Published Dec 8, 2025 3:52 PM EST

Legendary Navy aviator Royce Williams, who shot down four Soviet MiG-15 fighters in 1952, is the inspiration for legislation that would make it easier for troops and veterans to be awarded the Medal of Honor. Photos via the U.S. Naval Institute and the Congressional Medal of Honor Society.

More than 70 years after he took part in the longest dogfight in Navy history, scoring four aerial victories, Royce Williams might finally get the Medal of Honor.

Over the weekend, Congress released the text for the compromise National Defense Authorization Act, the annual defense policy bill outlining spending plans and goals. This year, it is a record $901 billion. Nestled into the large defense appropriations bill is Sec. 591, which would upgrade Williams’ Navy Cross to the Medal of Honor for “acts of valor during the Korean War.”

Those acts involve taking on seven Soviet MiG-15s in a 35-minute dogfight almost singlehandedly, in a battle that was kept under wraps for years despite Williams’ achievements.

On Nov. 18, 1952, Williams — then a Navy lieutenant flying in his Grumman F9F-5 Panther for his second mission that day — was with three other aviators over the Sea of Japan when seven Soviet Air Force fighter planes emerged. Two of the American planes had to return to their ships due to mechanical issues, leaving just Williams and his wingman in the skies as the Soviets closed in. As they flew by, Williams let out a burst of his F9F’s guns, scoring a hit. One MiG went down, with Williams’ wingman breaking off to chase it. Royce Williams was now alone, against six Soviet pilots in jets that were more advanced than his.

Over the course of 35 minutes, Williams banked and weaved his Panther, trying to avoid getting in the MiGs’ sights. He quickly downed a second Soviet jet, and kept using his maneuverability to line up passing shots with his limited ammo. He took out a third. Then he heavily damaged another that was eventually lost.

“In the moment I was a fighter pilot doing my job,” Williams told Task & Purpose in 2022. “I was only shooting what I had.”

Eventually, he ran out of ammunition and was forced to break off. He flew back to the Navy task force — which fired on him at first, mistaking him for the many more Soviet planes that had outnumbered him — and managed to land. After-action inspections found 263 bullet holes in his Panther. Somehow, Williams and the plane survived.

For his actions in the wild dogfight that day, Williams was awarded a Silver Star. But his actions were covered up — and his official victories listed as downing one enemy plane and damaging another — over fears it could heighten U.S.-Soviet tensions. So for the rest of his career, which included actions in Vietnam and commanding a ship, his record stayed that way, the truth kept hidden. It was only in the 21st century that retired Capt. Williams’ story came out.

For more than a decade, there has been a push to get Williams the Medal of Honor, with backers including retired Rear Adm. Doniphan Shelton and members of Congress. Three years ago, in December 2022, then-Secretary of the Navy Carlos Del Toro upgraded his Silver Star to a Navy Cross, saying that Williams “clearly distinguished himself during a high-risk mission and deserve[s] proper recognition.” Williams received the award in January 2023.

The text in this year’s defense spending bill would authorize awarding Williams, who is now 100, the Medal of Honor and waive any time limitations on presenting him with the award.

Voting on the bill is expected this month.