The  President  of  the United States takes pleasure  in  presenting  the   AIR MEDAL (Bronze Star for the First Award) to

for service as set forth in the following

                 CITATION:

                               "For heroic achievement  in aerial  flight while  serving  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 28  March  1970,  First Lieutenant Orahood launched as  Copilot aboard  the lead aircraft  in a flight of two  CH-46 transport  helicopters assigned  the emergency  extraction of a seven man Marine reconnaissance  team whose  mission had been  compromised  after the patrol  had made contact  several times with  hostile soldiers  near an  enemy troop concentration  approximately  eight miles west of  An Hoa in  Quang Nam Province.   Arriving over  the designated area,  he was informed by  the Forward Air Controller (Airborne) that  the Marines had formed  a defensive perimeter in a bomb crater to await  their extraction.   Despite the difficulty of  navigating his aircraft  in  the  darkness  over  the  rugged  mountain  terrain,  First Lieutenant Orahood  skillfully  monitored his  instruments and  equipment and  provided  a continuous  flow of vital  information which enabled  his transport to be maneu- vered down  through a small  opening among the trees,  establish a  hover above the  patrol  and lower the  ladder to  the ground.  Almost  immediately,  his heli-
copter  came under  intense  hostile  automatic  weapons fire.   Undaunted,  First Lieutenant Orahood alertly located and reported the sources of enemy fire to his aerial  gunners and  to  the supporting  gunships and  calmly  aided  his  pilot  in maintaining a  steady hover in their  precarious position until all members of the reconnaissance  team had  attached themselves  to the  external ladder.   He then provided  precise  navigational  and  flight data  as his  aircraft lifted  out of  the dangerous area and proceeded to An Hoa.   First Lieutenant Orahood's courage, superior  airmanship,  and  unwavering  devotion  to  duty  in  the  face  of great personal danger  were instrumental in accomplishing  the hazardous mission and were in keeping  with  the  highest  traditions  of  the  Marine Corps  and  of  the United  Sates  Naval Service."