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

for service as set forth in the following

        CITATION:

              "For heroic achievement in connection with combat operations
against the enemy in the Republic of Vietnam while serving with Marine Medium Helicopter Squadron 364, Marine Aircraft Group Sixteen, First Marine Aircraft Wing.   Late on  the afternoon of 7 February 1969, First Lieutenant Payne  volunteered  to serve as the  Officer  in  Charge  of  a recovery  team  assigned  to  retrieve five fatally  injured Marines whose helicopter had sustained battle damage and crashed in enemy controlled territory in Quang Nam Province while engaged in a medical evacuation mission.  Landing  at the designated area, he ignored the  intense hostile fire  during disembarkation and  quickly deployed his men  to defensive positions where he directed  their  fire against the  enemy emplacements until the hostile  fire subsided.  Having established a base of operations, he  led his team across seventy meters of  open terrain to  the crash site.  Undaunted by the constant harassment of enemy fire and the continued threat of explosion and fire should the aircraft fuel  which saturated the helicopter and the surrounding area be ignited by hostile tracer rounds, First Lieutenant Payne resolutely remained in his dangerously exposed position and skillfully directed  operations  during more than  one hour required  to  extract  both  the  casualties  and  valuable  weapons  and equipment  from the  wreckage.   Fearlessly  moving  in  full view of  the enemy,  he  boldly  led  his  men in carrying  the  Marines  and salvaged items  across  the  open  area  to the landing zone.   While the extraction aircraft  approached  the  area,  First  Lieutenant  Payne  directed  the delivery  of  such  effective  fire  that  the  helicopter  was  able  to  land, embark the casualties, equipment, and  recovery team, and safely depart the dangerous area without sustaining serious damage.  First Lieutenant Payne's courage, superb leadership and unwavering devotion to duty in the  face  of  great  personal  danger  were  instrumental  in  the accomplishment of  the hazardous mission and were in keeping with the highest  traditions of  the Marine Corps and of  the United States Naval Service."

The Combat Distinguishing Device is authorized.