The President of the United States takes pleasure in presenting the
NAVY AND MARINE CORPS MEDAL to

for service as set forth in the following

       CITATION:

"For  heroism  while serving  with  Marine Medium  Helicopter  Squadron 364,  Marine Aircraft  Group Sixteen,  First Marine  Aircraft Wing  in  the Republic of Vietnam.  On 30 October 1970,  Gunnery Sergeant Thompson launched  as  an   Aerial  Gunner  aboard  a  CH-46  transport   helicopter assigned  the  emergency  evacuation  of  Vietnamese  civilians trapped by flood water  which  had  overflowed the  Hoi An River  south of  DaNang. Arriving over the disaster area,  he found a village and  surrounding lands to  be  under  six  to  ten  feet  of  water  with  the  threatened  inhabitants huddled  on  rooftops.   Finally  locating  an  elevated  roadway  where the water  was  only a few feet deep,  the pilot landed his aircraft and Gunnery Sergeant Thompson  unhesitatingly plunged  into the treacherous current. Sometimes  wadding in  water up to his  neck and at  other times forced to swim,  he  valiantly  fought  both  the  swiftly  flowing  water  and   hidden obstacles as he made his way to where the frightened people were awaiting rescue.  During  numerous exhausting trips through the muddy and debris laden water,  he sometimes arrived back at  the helicopter with as many as four  hysterical  children clinging  to  him.   With the  fall  of  darkness,  it became  apparent  that   further  rescue  efforts   would  be  fruitless   but, determined to ensure that the village was clear of all people, he conducted a house-to-house search,  aided by two companions,  and found one home containing  twenty unattended children who  had been left to the mercy of the  rising waters.  Mustering his  last remaining strength,  he ensured that these children  too were placed aboard  the  transport.  Gunnery  Sergeant Thompson's  courage,   bold  initiative,   and  selfless  determination  were instrumental in saving  the lives of numerous Vietnamese people and were in  keeping  with the  highest  traditions  of the  Marine Corps  and of  the United States Naval Service."