The  President  of  the  United States  takes  pleasure  in  presenting  the  AIR MEDAL (Bronze Star for the First 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 afternoon of  25 August  1969, Lance Corporal  Lawrence  launched  as an  aerial Gunner 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 in Quang Nam Province.  Undaunted by  the intensity of the hostile fire directed at his aircraft from enemy positions on ridges along both sides of the landing zone, he  alertly  located  the  sources  of   North  Vietnamese  fire  and,   manning  his weapon,  delivered  such  devastating  machine  gun  fire that the hostile fire was suppressed  sufficiently to enable his pilot  to maneuver into  the precarious area on three separate ____, disembark his increments of reinforcements, extract an isolated Marine unit whose positions had become untenable and reunite it with its parent organization , and subsequently, to deliver vitally needed supplies of ammunition to the embattled Marines.  Lance Corporal Lawrence's courage, superior professionalism, and unwavering devotion to duty in the face of great personal danger 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."