The  President of  the United  States  takes  pleasure  in  presenting   the SILVER STAR MEDAL to

for service as set forth in the following

                 CITATION:

                                 "For conspicuous gallantry  and intrepidity  in action while serving with  Marine Medium Helicopter Squadron 364, Marine Aircraft  Group Thirty-Six,  First  Marine Aircraft Wing  in  connection  with operations  against the enemy  in the Republic of Vietnam.  On  4 June 1968,  Captain BLAND  was Aircraft Commander of  a CH-46 transport  helicopter assigned  to extract a  ten man  reconnaissance  team that had  sustained  a casualty  and was  in danger of being overrun by a numerically superior  North Vietnamese Army force in  Thau Thien Province.  Proceeding to the designated area despite rapidly  deteriorating weather  conditions,  he effectively coordinated  the rocket  and strafing  runs of supporting  gunships  with  the  suppressive  fire  of   his  aerial  gunners  against hostile  positions within  thirty meters  of  the  friendly  perimeter.   Upon  being informed that  the reconnaissance team  had sustained  additional  casualties, he maneuvered  his aircraft  to a hover  twenty feet above  the dense jungle  canopy and steadfastly ignored the heavy volume of enemy fire directed at his helicopter during  the  forty  minutes  required  to hoist  the wounded  men aboard,  simul- taneously  directing all available suppressive fire  against  the  hostile   positions. Despite the severe battle damage sustained  by his aircraft, he skillfully  departed the hazardous area and proceeded under the heavy overcast to a medical facility at Phu Bai.   Obtaining  another  helicopter,  he quickly  returned to  the  recon- naissance team's position and,  coordinating  his  approach  with  two  gunships, unhesitatingly established a hover over  the beleaguered men.  Undaunted by the extremely  heavy volume  of enemy fire,  he steadfastly held his exposed position for thirty  minutes until the remaining  five Marines were hoisted  aboard before expeditiously  departing  for  Phu Bai.  Later  that  afternoon,  Captain  BLAND again responded  to an urgent request to  extract  another  reconnaissance  team heavily  engaged with  the enemy along  the  side of  a ridge.   Maintaining a 150 foot  hover for  fifty minutes in  the face of  intense hostile  fire, he succeeded  in extracting the  entire team and then returned to his base.  By his courage, superb airmanship and selfless devotion to duty at great personal risk, Captain BLAND undoubtedly saved the lives of several Marines and upheld the highest traditions of the Marine Corps and of the United States Naval Service."