The  President  of  the  United States  takes  pleasure  in  presenting  the  AIR MEDAL (Gold Star in lieu of 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. On the evening of 3 February 1970, Corporal Crider  launched as  Crew Chief aboard  the lead aircraft in a flight of two trans- port  helicopters assigned the emergency  hoist extraction of a  Marine reconnai- ssance team which  had sustained one  casualty while heavily  engaged in combat with a  hostile force in  the Thoung Duc Valley,  approximately twenty-six  miles southwest of DaNang.  Arriving  over the designated area,  he was informed that the  beleaguered patrol was located at  the base of a 150-foot  high cliff  in a nar- row valley with sheer cliffs on both sides and that the enemy had moved to with- in twenty-five meters of  the Marines.  Undaunted by  the intensity of the hostile automatic  weapons fire  directed at his aircraft,  Corporal Crider  resolutely  re- mained  in a dangerously  exposed position  in order to more  effectively provide clearance  information  as  he guided his  pilot to a hover over  the pick-up  site. Ignoring  the heavy volume of enemy fire,  he continued to  boldly remain in his exposed position to advise  the pilot of the progress of  the members of the team as they  attached themselves and  their wounded  comrade to the  extraction  rig. When all were firmly attached,  he skillfully guided his transport out of  the dan- gerous area and, upon arrival at Thuong Duc, aided in providing precise data as the  Marines were carefully  lowered to the ground.  Corporal  Crider'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.