The  President  of  the  United States takes pleasure  in  presenting  the BRONZE STAR MEDAL to

for service as set forth in the following

                 CITATION:

                         "For  heroic achievement in connection with operations against  the enemy in the Republic of Vietnam while serving as a Forward Air Controller  with   Company   L,   Third   Battalion,   Twenty-Sixth  Marines,   First   Marine Division.  On  10  July  1968, Company L was  conducting a  search and destroy operation  south  of  DaNang when  the  lead  elements  suddenly came  under  a heavy  volume of small arms, automatic weapons  weapons and mortar fire from a  large  North  Vietnamese Army  force and  were  pinned  down.  Realizing  the seriousness of  the situation, Sergeant ARROTTA unhesitatingly left his position of  relative  safety  and  advanced  to an  advantageous location  from  which  he could  observe   the  hostile  emplacements.   When  fixed   wing  attack   aircraft arrived,  he  repeatedly exposed himself to  the intense enemy fire while skillfully directing the aircraft in delivering their  ordnance  upon  the  North  Vietnamese fortifications.   Ignoring  the  hostile mortar and  small arms fire impacting near him, he calmly adjusted  the air strikes to within 150 meters of  his own position, enabling  his company to  withdraw to more defensible  terrain.  His  timely  and heroic actions  inspired all  who observed him and were instrumental  in  twenty- seven  North Vietnamese  soldiers  being  killed.  Sergeant  ARROTTA's courage aggressive  fighting  spirit and  steadfast  devotion  to duty  in the  face  of  great personal danger  contributed immeasurably to  the accomplishment of his  unit's mission and were in keeping with the highest traditions of the Marine Corps and of the United States Naval Service.  

The Combat Distinguishing Device is authorized.