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.   Late on the night of  2 January 1969, First Lieutenant  Britton  launched  as  Copilot aboard  a CH-46 transport  helicopter assigned the emergency medical evacuation of a seriously wounded Marine from a unit heavily engaged with a hostile force in Quang Nam Province.   Undaunted by  adverse  weather and total darkness which increased  the difficulty of  identi- fying the  landing zone,  located in hazardous terrain, he skillfully monitored his instruments and equipment and provided a continuous flow of vital information which enabled his  aircraft to commence its approach  to the landing  zone while guided by only the dim light of a flashlight on the ground.  When  the  increased intensity  of enemy  fire  endangered  his CH-46  and  forced the   landing  to  be aborted, he coordinated his second approach with suppressive fire of supporting gunships,  but was again forced to wave off  when his helicopter  encountered an extremely heavy volume of hostile machine gun and automatic weapons fire and was struck by several  rounds.   Realizing  the urgency of  extracting the  injured Marine  whose  condition  was  rapidly  deteriorating,  First  Lieutenant  Britton quickly  assessed the damage and diligently monitored  his instruments to report the first sign of malfunctions in his aircraft.  While making a third  approach, he skillfully coordinated  the fire of the  escorting  gunships with  the ground  unit's tracer  fire used  to mark  the landing  zone in order to guide  his CH-46 into the fire-swept area.   Embarking the  wounded man,  he then alertly  pinpointed and reported  the location of  hostile firing  positions which enabled  his pilot to take evasive  actions  as  he  lifted out of the  dangerous  area  and  departed  for  the nearest medical facility.  First Lieutenant Britton's courage, superior airmanship and unwavering devotion to duty at great personal risk  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."