Staff Sergeant Darrell E. Vaughn distinguished himself by heroism while participating in aerial flight as a C-130E Loadmaster at Kham Duc, Republic of Vietnam on 12 May 1968. On that date Sergeant Vaughn flew a tactical emergency mission into Kham Duc while the base was under fire by hostile forces. By superb flying skill, Sergeant Vaughn evaded the hail of hostile ground fire and successfully evacuated more than 120 Vietnamese civilians and allied ground forces before the field was overrun. The outstanding heroism and selfless devotion to duty displayed by Sergeant Vaughn reflect great credit upon himself and the United States Air Force.