Kenneth E. Buzbee

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

"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 2 August 1970, Corporal Buzbee launched as an Aerial Gunner aboard the lead aircraft in a flight of two CH-46 transport helicopters assigned the emergency extraction of an eight-man Marine reconnaissance team which had sustained one casualty while surrounded and heavily engaged in combat with a numerically superior hostile force in a mountainous area northwest of Thong Duc in Quang Nam Province. Arriving over the designated area he found that approaching darkness and a low cloud cover would seriously hamper the extraction effort. After his aircraft's first approach was aborted because clouds closed in and obliterated the beleaguered patrol's position, Corporal Buzbee, undaunted by the intensity of the enemy fire directed at his helicopter, skillfully manned his weapon and boldly delivered a steady stream of accurate and highly effective machine gun fire during the second approach which suppressed the hostile fire sufficiently to enable his transport to air taxi beneath the cloud cover, land near the Marines, embark the reconnaissance team, and depart the dangerous area. Corporal Buzbee's courage, superior professionalism, and unwavering devotion to duty at great personal risk were instrumental in accomplishing the hazardous mission and were in keeping with the highest traditions of the Marine Corps and of the United States Naval Service."