The  President  of   the  United  States  takes  pride  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  afternoon  of 26 August  1969,  First Lieutenant Williams  launched as Copilot aboard the second aircraft  in a flight  of two  CH-46 transport  helicopters assigned  the emergency medical evacuation of Marine casualties from an unsecured zone in a mountain- ous area of Quang Nam Province.  When  his section leader's aircraft reached an altitude  of  approximately  800 feet during  its approach to the  landing zone,  it came under an extremely heavy volume of enemy machine gun  fire from hostile positions  on  ridges  along   both sides of  its  run-in  heading,   was  extensively damaged,  and  crash landed in  flames fifty meters from the medical evacuation site.  When his pilot commenced a tight,  spiral approach to  the downed CH-46, First Lieutenant Williams  ignored the  intense hostile fire as  he skillfully  moni- tored  his instruments and equipment,  alertly located and directed the fire of his crewmen  on enemy  positions,  and  provided a continuous  flow of  vital  infor- mation  which  enabled  his pilot to  maneuver to a landing  100 meters from the burning aircraft.  Undaunted  by the  intensity of  the hostile fire directed  at his helicopter  and enemy  rocket-propelled  rounds impacting in  the area, he oper- ated the ramp, called out sources of hostile  fire, and assisted his pilot in holding his CH-46 in  its precarious position until all six members of the downed aircraft had embarked.   Providing precise  flight data,  he then  aided his  pilot  in man- euvering out of  the perilous area.   First Lieutenant Williams'  courage, superior airmanship,  and  unwavering  devotion  to  duty  in  the  face  of  great personal danger were  instrumental in  saving the  lives of his fellow  Marines and  were in keeping with the highest traditions of the Marine Corps and of the United States Naval Service."