The  President  of   the  United  States  takes  pride  in  presenting  the 
DISTINGUISHED FLYING CROSS (Gold Star in lieu of the Third Award) 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  night  of 30 March 1970,  First Lieutenant Williams launched as Section Leader of a flight of two  transport helicopters  assigned the  emergency medical  evacuation  of  four seriously  wounded  Marines from  a unit  which  was operating  in the  southern foothills of the Que Son Mountains north  of Landing Zone Ross in Quang Nam Province.  Despite a low ceiling which varied from two hundred to three hundred feet along his  approach route,  the difficulty  of maneuvering  his aircraft  in the darkness over  the rugged terrain,  and the intensity of the hostile fire directed at his helicopter on  six separate occasions  during his low-level flight,  he  skillfully navigated his  transport to the  designated area.  After receiving  a brief from the Forward  Air  Controller  (Airborne)  and  information  that the  casualties  were located  in a small  landing zone  on top  of a five  hundred foot  high  hill,  First Lieutenant Williams,  undaunted by the  heavy volume of enemy  fire directed at his aircraft,  boldly maneuvered  his transport down through the hostile fire to a two-wheel  landing and  fearlessly remained  in his precarious  position while the casualties were  embarked.   Lifting out of the  dangerous area  he proceeded  to Landing  Zone  Baldy  where  he extracted two Vietnamese  who required imme- diate  medical  attention  and   then  continued  on  to   the  medical  facility   at DaNang.   First Lieutenant  Williams' courage, superior  airmanship, and unwa-  vering devotion to duty in the face of great personal danger were instrumental in accomplishing  the hazardous  mission and were in  keeping with the highest tra- ditions of the Marine Corps and of the United States Naval Service."