The  Presidentof the United States  takes  pleasure  in  presenting  the   DISTINGUISHED FLYING CROSS posthumously 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 combat operations against the enemy in the  Republic of Vietnam.  On the after- noon  of  25 August 1969,  First Lieutenant Charles K. Butler launched as Wing- man  in  a  flight of two  CH-46  transport  helicopters  assigned  the  emergency mission  of  helilifting  reinforcements from  Landing Zone Baldy  to elements of the  Seventh Marines  that  were  heavily  engaged  in combat with a large North Vietnamese Army Force  north  of  Landing Zone West.  Undaunted  by  the  ex- tremely heavy  volume of small arms and automatic  weapons fire directed at his aircraft from enemy positions along ridges on both  sides of the landing zone, he skillfully coordinated his low-altitude approach with  the firing runs of  support- ing gunships and boldly maneuvered his helicopter to a landing in the fire-swept area,  discharging   the  Marines,   and  quickly  departing  the  dangerous  zone. Following  the  insertion of his  second increment,  he resolutely  returned  to the hazardous  area as darkness approached and successfully  disembarked his third increment.   When  informed  that elements of  a company  had  sustained  three casualties  and were blocked  from rejoining  their main  body by  a  North Viet- namese  Army  unit  which  surrounded  them  on  three  sides,  First  Lieutenant Butler,  despite  total  darkness,  completely  disregarding  his  own  safety  as he again  braved the intense hostile fire to extract the embattled Marines and trans- port them to the command post.   After delivering  the casualties  to the  nearest medical facility and refueling his CH-46, First Lieutenant Butler responded to an urgent  request for an  emergency resupply  of ammunition and  entered the pre- carious  area  for the  fourth time to  successfully deliver  external loads  of vital ordnance.  First Lieutenant Butler's courage, superior airmanship, and unwaver- ing  devotion to duty in the  face of great personal  danger  were instrumental  in accomplishing  the  hazardous mission  and were in keeping with the highest tra- ditions of the Marine Corps and of the United States Naval Service.