The  President  of  the  United States  takes  pleasure  in  presenting  the  DISTINGUISHED FLYING CROSS to

for service as set forth in the following

                 CITATION:

                               "For heroism and extraordinary achievement in  aerial flight while serving as a  Pilot with Marine Medium Helicopter Squadron 364,  Marine Aircraft Group Sixteen,  First Marine Aircraft Wing  in  connection  with Opera- tions  against  the  enemy  in  the   Republic  of  Vietnam.   On  the  night  of  23 September 1969, First Lieutenant Burgess launched as Aircraft Commander of a CH-46  transport  helicopter assigned  the emergency  mission  of  extracting  an eight-man  Marine reconnaissance  team which had  sustained one casualty while surrounded and  heavily engaged  in combat with  a numerically  superior North Vietnamese Army force  in a mountainous area  approximately five miles  south- west of Thuong Duc in Quang Nam Province.  Arriving over the designated area, he  was  informed  that,  following  strikes by  OV-10 Bronco  aircraft,  he  could begin  his  approach  to  the  landing  zone.   Undaunted by  the extremely heavy volume of hostile ground fire directed at his aircraft and the difficulty of maneu- vering  in  the  darkness  through   adverse  weather  over  rugged  terrain,   First Lieutenant Burgess  skillfully coordinated his  approach with the fire of  suppor- ting  gunships which  flanked  his helicopter and,  guided only by a  single strobe light on the ground, maneuvered to a landing with his aircraft's two main wheels on a ridge and  its nose wheel suspended  over the edge.   With  exceptional skill, despite  the turbulent winds and  the intense enemy fire,  he held his CH-46 in its precarious position until  the wounded Marine  and the remainder of the  recon- naissance  team  had  embarked  and  then  departed  the  perilous  area  for  the nearest medical facility.  First Lieutenant Burgess' courage, superior airmanship, and  unwavering devotion  to duty in the face  of great personal  danger were in- strumental in accomplishing the hazardous mission and were in keeping with the highest traditions of the Marine Corps and of the United States Naval Service."