The  President  of the  United  States  takes  pleasure  in presenting the DISTINGUISHED FLYING CROSS, Gold Star in lieu of the second award to

for service as set forth in the following

               CITATION:

                               "For heroism and extraordinary achievement  in aerial flight while  serving  with  Marine Medium Helicopter Squadron 364,  Marine  Aircraft Group  Sixteen,  First  Marine Aircraft Wing  in connection with  combat opera- tions against the enemy in the Republic of Vietnam.  On 7 February 1969, Major Cunningham  launched  as  Pilot of  a  CH-46 transport  helicopter assigned  the mission of extracting a  reconnaissance team in heavy contact with a numerically superior  enemy force west of  DaNang in  Quang Nam Province.   Arriving over the  designated  area,   he  commenced  an  approach  to  the  landing  zone  and immediately came under such a heavy volume of fire that he was forced to abort his  rescue attempt.   After Marine artillery  fire  missions  and  gunship  strafing runs  had been  conducted against  the hostile positions,  he maneuvered  his air- craft  toward  the  beleaguered  Marines'  location a  second  time but was  again forced  to abort  due to intense  enemy fire.   Realizing the  necessity  to  quickly extract  the reconnaissance team from  the hazardous area,  Major Cunningham fearlessly  executed  a  low-altitude,   high-speed  approach  through  the   heavy volume  of fire  and skillfully backed his  CH-46 into a clearing near  the ground unit's  position.   Despite  turbulent  winds and  the  lack of  a visible  horizon to utilize as a reference point,  he resolutely maintained  the aircraft in a hover with the  boarding  ramp  touching  the side of the hill.   Having embarked the recon- naissance  team,  he then  departed  the area  and returned  the unit to  DaNang. Major   Cunningham's   courage,   superb   aeronautical   ability  and   steadfast devotion  to duty at great personal risk inspired all who observed him and  were  in  keeping with the highest  traditions of  the  Marine Corps and  of the  United States Naval Service."