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  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 28 January  1969,   First   Lieutenant  Hopper   launched  as  Aircraft  Commander aboard the third aircraft  in a flight of seven CH-46 transport helicopters assign- ed to helilift 600 Marines into an enemy controlled area south of DaNang.  After encountering only sporadic hostile fire  while inserting his  assault teams  during the  first two waves into the landing  zone,  First Lieutenant Hopper  came under an  extremely  heavy volume  of enemy  small arms  and automatic weapons  fire during  his  third  landing when  the  zone  was  shifted  to  another  site,  several rounds of which struck his CH-46 and severely damaged other helicopters  in his flight.  Returning to  An Hoa,  he was  informed that only  his  aircraft  and  one other were in operable condition to continue the  mission.  Realizing the urgency of  reinforcing  the  ground  units  as expeditiously  as possible,  First Lieutenant Hopper resolutely elected to continue the mission. Undaunted by the intensity of the hostile fire, he completely disregarded his own safety as  he fearlessly maneu- vered his helicopter into the fire-swept area on  nine more insertions to complete the helilift operations.   First Lieutenant Hopper's  courage, superior airmanship and  unwavering  devotion  to  duty  in  the  face  of great personal  danger were instrumental in the accomplishment of  the hazardous mission and were in keep- ing with  the  highest  traditions  of  the  Marine Corps and of the  United States Naval Service."