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   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  afternoon of 25 August 1969,   First Lieutenant Dutton  launched as Copilot aboard  the  lead  aircraft  in  a  flight  of two  CH-46  transport  helicopters assigned the  emergency mission  of helilifting  reinforcements  to  a  Marine unit which  was heavily  engaged  in combat  with a large North  Vietnamese Army force  north of   Landing Zone West  Quang Nam Province.  After  his flight embarked its first increment at  Landing Zone Baldy and proceeded to the designated area,  he resolutely ignored  the intense hostile fire directed at his  aircraft   as  he  skillfully  monitored   his  instruments  and  equipment, assisted at the controls, and provided a continuous flow of vital information which enabled his pilot  to coordinate his approach with  the fire of support- ing gunships, land in the fire-swept area,  debark the Marines, and lift out of the hazardous zone.   Following  the successful  insertion  of the  second and third increments without serious resistance,  his pilot responded to an urgent request to  extract thirty-four  Marines,  including four casualties,  who were isolated  from  their  unit  and in  imminent  danger  of being  overrun  by  a numerically superior hostile  force which had  managed to gain  positions to the  unit's  front  and  on  both  flanks.   Undaunted  by  darkness   and  the extremely  heavy volume of  North Vietnamese fire,  First Lieutenant Dutton maintained  continuous  communication  with  supporting  gunships,  alertly located and reported the sources of enemy fire,  directed the suppressive fire of his aerial gunners,  and provided precise clearance data which enabled his CH-46  to extract  the  casualties  to  the  medical  facility  at  Landing Zone Baldy.  When  informed that  his flight  was responding to an urgent request to  resupply  the  embattled  Marine  unit  with  ammunition,  he braved  the intense  hostile fire  for the fifth time that  day  as  he  calmly  and  skillfully aided his pilot in  delivering a double external load  of vitally needed ammu- nition.    First   Lieutenant   Dutton's   courage,   superior   airmanship,  and unwavering  devotion to  duty  in the face  of great personal  danger  were in keeping  with the highest  traditions of  the Marine  Corps and of the United States Naval Service."