The  President of  the  United  States  takes  pleasure  in  presenting  the SILVER STAR MEDAL to

for service as set forth in the following

                 CITATION:

                                "For  conspicuous  gallantry and  intrepidity in action 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 morning of 17 November 1969, First Lieutenant Esmond launched as Section Leader of a flight of two CH-46 transport helicopters assigned the emergency  medical  evacuation of casualties  from a  Second Republic of Korea Marine Brigade  unit which was operating  eighteen miles southwest of  DaNang.   Arriving  over  the  designated area,  he  was  informed that  the friendly unit  was under  intense enemy rocket, mortar, and automatic weapons  fire and that  the number of wounded  Koreans had risen  to seven  with four requiring immediate extraction.  Skillfully  coordi- nating   his  flight's  approach  with   the  fire  of  supporting  gunships  and  the screening smoke  laid down by an OV-10 aircraft,  First Lieutenant  Esmond un- daunted by the extremely heavy volume of hostile  fire directed at his helicopter, expertly  maneuvered  his CH-46 to a landing  in the  fire-swept area.  As his air- craft touched down, it  was struck by  fragments from exploding enemy  rounds, seriously damaging  the CH-46 and wounding him.  Despite  his painful wounds, he  resolutely held his  aircraft in  its precarious  position until  all the  casualties were  placed  aboard, and  then lifted  out of th e hazardous  area.  Although  an enemy round had severed  the pressure line to the forward transmission, he skill- fully  maintained  his controls to  keep his  crippled  helicopter airborne.   When informed that two of his  crewmen were  critically wounded  and  and that  there was  a sizable  hydraulic leak  in the  number two  boost system, First Lieutenant Esmond maintained  a flight pattern at 1,000 foot altitude in an attempt to reach the  Marble Mountain Air Facility and,  when his number two  and utility  boost systems completely failed,  maneuvered his CH-46  to a safe landing on  a beach. Quickly  securing his aircraft,  he assisted  in transferring the  wounded  Marines and the Korean casualties to his wingman's helicopter which had  landed nearby and then proceeded to the hospital facility at Marble Mountain.  By his courage, superior  airmanship,  and  unwavering  devotion  to  duty  in  the  face  of great personal  danger,  First Lieutenant Esmond upheld  the highest traditions of  the Marine Corps and of the United States Naval Service."