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  the evening of  1 June 1970, Sergeant Sawyer launched as  Crew Chief aboard a  CH-46 transport  heli- copter  assigned the  medical evacuation of several  Marine  casualties  who  had been  extensively wounded by enemy mines.   Arriving over  the designated loca- tion, he observed that, when the tall elephant grass was parted  by the downdraft from the rotor blades, the entire  field was literally seeded with mines.  Unwilling to  risk additional casualties  by allowing any member of  the crew to walk about the area,  the pilot conceived an imaginative plan whereby one of his men was to be lowered on the mechanical hoist  to where each casualty lay, wait on the  spot while  the wounded man was lifted  into the aircraft  and then be  carried on  the hoist  to  the  next stricken man.  For  approximately  an hour,  Sergeant Sawyer played a large part in  this  successful operation.  Fully aware  that  the  slightest miscalculation  on his  part could drag either the  crewman  or a casualty  in  the grass and thus detonate other mines, resulting in additional injuries and possible damage to  his helicopter which would cause  it to crash land in the minefield, he carefully  lowered  the  hoist  to  precisely  the  correct  level,  slowly embarked a wounded man, then provide  guidance  which enabled  the pilot  to move  to  the next  casualty and come  to a steady hover.   With the fall of darkness, it became necessary to utilize the exterior lights  to aid the crewman at the end of the  hoist in  his examination of the casualties and  to provide terrain  references  and, as a result, Sergeant Sawyer, in  his dangerously exposed position  at the open  door- way,  became  a vulnerable target for  automatic weapons and  rocket  propelled grenade  fire which  enemy soldiers delivered  at the transport from  several diff- erent  directions.   Undaunted  by  this  adversity,  he  steadfastly  continued  his determined efforts  with calm deliberation until  all  the wounded men had  been embarked  and  the helicopter  directed toward  the nearest medical  facilities  at DaNang.  Sergeant Sawyer's  courage, expert technical assistance,  and unwaver- ing  devotion  to duty in the face  of grave personal danger were  instrumental in accomplishing  the hazardous  lifesaving  mission  and were  in keeping with  the highest traditions of the Marine Corps and of the United States Naval Service."