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 opera- tions against the  enemy in the  Republic of Vietnam.  On  21 April 1969,  Lance Corporal Harris  launched  as an  Aerial Gunner aboard a CH-46 transport heli- copter  assigned  the  emergency  medical  evacuation  of  three casualties from a Marine  unit  which was  heavily  engaged in  combat with  a large  hostile  force northwest of Liberty Bridge in Quang Nam Province.   Undaunted by the  inten- sity of the enemy fire which had  thwarted three previous attempts to extract the wounded Marines, he boldly manned his machine gun and delivered  such highly effective fire that the hostile fire was suppressed sufficiently to permit his aircraft to land  in the hazardous area.   When an extremely heavy volume  of enemy fire erupted  from  a  tree  line  on  his  side  of  the  CH-46,  Lance  Corporal Harris ignored the enemy rounds impacting within inches  of his machine gun mount as he  fearlessly remained  in his precarious position  and delivered  suppressive fire until  the  casualties  were  embarked  and his  helicopter  departed  the  perilous area.   Later  the same day,  his aircraft returned  to  the  beleaguered  unit in re- sponse to an urgent request to extract additional casualties. Although his CH-46 came under  intense enemy small  arms and automatic weapons fire as it approa- ched the landing zone, Lance Corporal Harris resolutely remained in his danger- ously exposed position and fired  at the enemy until  his helicopter landed safely in the fire-swept zone.   Wounded in right shoulder, he fired  his weapon with his left hand while two casualties were placed aboard and continued to deliver supp- ressive  fire  as  his aircraft departed the zone.   Lance Corporal Harris' courage, superior professionalism,  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.