The  President  of  the United States takes pleasure  in  presenting  the   AIR MEDAL (Bronze Star for the First Award) to

for service as set forth in the following

                 CITATION:

                               "For heroic achievement  in aerial  flight while  serving  with Marine  Medium  Helicopter  Squadron  364,   Marine  Aircraft  Group  Sixteen, First Marine Aircraft Wing   in connection  with  combat operations  against  the enemy  in  the  Republic  of Vietnam.  On  26  January  1969, Corporal  Bandish launched as  Crew Chief aboard a CH-46 transport helicopter assigned the emer- gency  extraction of a  reconnaissance team  which was  heavily  engaged  with  a hostile force near the banks of a river in  Quang Nam Province.  When he found that the dense undergrowth in the designated  area would require a hover extrac- tion, utilizing  a newly designed ladder, he skillfully  provided a continuous  flow of  vital clearance  information that  enabled  his  pilot to  maneuver  to a  hover above  the  beleaguered  team.  Undaunted  by the  heavy volume  of enemy  fire directed  against his aircraft, Corporal  Bandish boldly  remained in his  danger- ously  exposed position  to assist  the  Marines in  boarding his  CH-46  until  an engine malfunction forced the helicopter to abort  its extraction and depart for a friendly position to disembark its passengers.  Quickly  locating and repairing he malfunction,  Corporal  Bandish  resolutely  returned  to the  hazardous  area to extract  the remainder of  the team.  Due to  the fact that the  aircraft's supply of fuel was  nearly depleted, the pilot  decided that  the most effective  way to com- plete the extraction was to back his aircraft over the river and lower the ramp on the  river bank.  Ignoring the intense hostile fire, Corporal  Bandish calmly  pro- vided  precise clearance data which enabled  the CH-46 to lower its ramp  on the river  bank,  embark  the  remaining  Marines,  and  depart  the  area.  Corporal Bandish' courage superior  professionalism and unwavering  devotion to duty in the face of  great personal danger  were in keeping with the  highest traditions of the Marine Corps and of the United States Naval Service."