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.  Late on  the  after- noon of 11 July 1970,  First Lieutenant Schmitz launched as Section Leader of a flight of  two CH-46 transport helicopters assigned  the emergency ladder extrac- tion  of  a  reconnaissance  team  which  was  heavily  engaged in combat  with a numerically superior hostile force in a densely-jungled mountainous area west of DaNang.  Arriving over  the designated area as darkness closed in, he found that the beleaguered patrol was located on the side of a hill among tall trees.  Guided by a strobe  light on  the ground,  he commenced his approach  behind a  smoke screen laid down by Cobra gunships but was forced  to abort his approach when he  encountered  an extremely heavy volume  of enemy automatic  weapons  fire. After  the supporting  gunships attacked  the hostile  positions,  First Lieutenant Schmitz ignored  the enemy fire as he skillfully maneuvered to a hover above the pick-up  site,   lowered  his  extraction  ladder  down  through  the  canopy,  and remained  in his precarious position until  the reconnaissance team had attached themselves to  the ladder.  As he began to lift from the area, his helicopter began to lose power because of  the altitude,  the additional weight of  the men suspen- ded on  the ladder beneath his transport, and  the wind in the area.  While main- taining a hover just clear of  the trees, his helicopter  came under  intense hostile fire.  Undaunted,  First Lieutenant Schmitz  directed  that  some  of his aircraft's fuel be jettisoned to lighten the load, advised his aerial gunners not to return fire because of  the danger of  igniting  the fuel, and had  the  auxiliary  power  plant activated before  the generator power  was lost.   With exceptional skill,  he care- fully  maneuvered  his aircraft to  lift out of  the dangerous area  and  then  pro- ceeded  to  Landing  Zone  401.   First  Lieutenant Schmitz'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 States Naval Service."