The  President  of  the United States takes pleasure  in  presenting  the   AIR MEDAL (Gold Star in lieu of the Second Award) to

for service as set forth in the following

                 CITATION:

                               "For heroic achievement in aerial flight while serving with 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 29 January 1970, First Lieutenant Lamb  launched  as  Section Leader  of  a  flight  of  two CH-46 transport  helicopters  assigned  the  emergency  extraction  of  a  Marine  recon- naissance  team which was  surrounded  and heavily  engaged in  combat  with  a large North Vietnamese Army  force approximately  eighteen miles  southwest of DaNang.  Arriving  over the designated area,  he quickly located the beleaguered patrol's  position on  the top of a small  ridge and  was informed that  the Cobra gunships  attacking the enemy  positions had  encountered  antiaircraft  fire  and intense hostile small arms and automatic weapons fire.  When informed  that the fixed-wing  aircraft he had  requested would  not be available  for another  hour, First Lieutenant Lamb, realizing  the urgency of rescuing the Marines before the North Vietnamese  closed in  on their position,  resolutely elected  to attempt  an immediate extraction.  Undaunted by the heavy volume of hostile fire directed at his helicopter,  he utilized the  light of ground  flares to guide  him to  the  small landing zone and,  on his third attempt,  skillfully maneuvered  to a landing with only his main mounts straddling the ridge.  With complete disregard for his own safety,  he  remained  in  his  precarious  position  until  all  of  the  Marines had climbed  aboard and  then successfully  eluded  the  enemy  fire  as he  departed. First Lieutenant Lamb's courage, superior airmanship, and unwavering devotion to duty  in the  face of great personal  danger were  in  keeping with  the  highest traditions of the Marine Corps and of the United Sates Naval Service."