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 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  morning  of 9 October 1970, First Lieutenant Orahood launched as Section Leader of two CH-46  transport helicopters  assigned the  emergency  medical  evacuation  of a seriously  wounded  Marine  from a unit  which  was  engaged  in  combat with a hostile  force south  of  Hill 270S in  Quang  Nam  Province.  Although  no  gun-
ships were  immediately available to support the extraction, he resolutely elected to continue the mission when he was appraised of  the urgency of evacuating the casualty.   Arriving  over  the designated area,  he found  that  the Marines  were located in  an unsecure zone  on a steep,  boulder-strewn  slope and  were  under a heavy volume of enemy fire.   Undaunted,  First Lieutenant Orahood  skillfully maneuvered  his  aircraft  to  a one-wheel  landing on a  large  boulder.   Almost immediately,  his  transport  under intense hostile fire,  several  rounds  of which severely damaged his  aircraft and severed the communications lines between the cabin and the cockpit.  With complete disregard for his own safety,  he fearlessly held  his helicopter  in  its precarious  position  until  the  wounded  Marine  was placed  aboard  and then lifted  out of the  dangerous area.   After  assessing  the extent of the damage sustained,  First Lieutenant Orahood  expertly maneuvered his  crippled  aircraft to  a nearby secured area  and directed the  transfer  of the medical evacuee to his wingman's helicopter for the flight to the  medical facility at  DaNang.   First  Lieutenant  Orahood's  courage,  superior   airmanship,  and unwavering  devotion to duty  in the face of  great personal  danger  were instru- mental in accomplishing the hazardous  mission and were  in  keeping  with  the  highest traditions of the Marine Corps and  of  the United States Naval Service."