The  President  of  the United States takes pleasure  in  presenting  the   AIR MEDAL (Gold Star for the Third 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. Late on the afternoon of  7 February 1969, Lance Corporal Bandish launched as Crew Chief aboard the second aircraft in a flight of  two CH-46 transport  helicopters assigned the emergency medical evac- uation  of  casualties  from  a  Marine  position  in  Quang  Nam  Province.  The section  leader's aircraft came  under intense hostile fire, sustained  severe  battle damage, and  crashed  in enemy controlled  territory.  Lance  Corporal Bandish, undaunted  by  the extremely  heavy  volume of  hostile  small  arms,  automatic weapons, and machine gun fire directed against his helicopter, skillfully manned his  weapon and delivered suppressive machine gun  fire against  the enemy posi- tions  while his CH-46  maneuvered over  the crash site  to determine the  fate of the  crew  and  cover  the  approach  of  a friendly  ground force  to  the downed aircraft.  After  receiving  a  request  for cutting tools  to extricate  two survivors pinned  in  the  wreckage, his  aircraft  commander  proceeded  to  DaNang, em- barked rescue equipment  and personnel, and quickly  returned to the crash site. Ignoring  the intense hostile  fire, Lance Corporal  Bandish delivered  such effec- tive  suppressing machine  gun fire that  his CH-46  was able to  land in  the  fire swept zone, disembark the rescue team, and safely lift out of  the dangerous area and orbit above the zone.  When  the ground force  reported that one of  its men was  seriously  wounded  and  required  immediate  evacuation, Lance  Corporal Bandish ably provided a continuous flow of clearance information and delivered covering  fire  that enabled his  helicopter  to land, embark  the injured  Marine, and  depart for the nearest  medical facility.  Lance Corporal Bandish's courage, superior professionalism and unwavering devotion to duty at great personal risk were  in keeping  with  the  highest  traditions  of  the  Marine  Corps  and of the United States Naval Service."