The President of the United States of America, authorized by Act of Congress, July 2, 1926, takes pleasure in presenting the Distinguished Flying Cross to Warrant Officer One (WO-1) Gerald D. Cartier (ASN: W-3159705), United States Army, for heroism while participating in aerial flight evidenced by voluntary action above and beyond the call of duty in the Republic of Vietnam on 22 April 1969. Warrant Officer Cartier distinguished himself while serving as aircraft commander of a UH-1H helicopter involved in a combat assault lifting nine hundred Army of the Republic of Vietnam troops into a landing zone approximately two miles south of the Demilitarized Zone. The lead ship was destroyed by a command detonated mine as it landed on the landing zone, severely wounding the crew and passengers aboard. The crew and passengers were evacuated, but it was reported that there were still wounded personnel in the landing zone. The Battalion Commander requested that an aircraft go into the landing zone in search of the reported wounded. On a short final approach into the landing zone, the enemy initiated a heavy volume of fire. While at a hover, Warrant Officer Cartier’s aircraft took numerous hits in the tail rotor and engine simultaneously, thus crippling it. The aircraft started to fall down the hill of the landing zone with minimum directional control, while losing rotor speed and Warrant Officer Cartier was barely able to move the helicopter back up the hill and set it down in an upright position. After reporting to the Commanding Officer the condition of his ship, crew, and passengers, he went about setting up a defensive perimeter around the aircraft as the intensity of enemy fire increased. Upon sighting the chase aircraft on approach to his position, he directed his crew and passengers to prepare for extraction. After everyone was aboard the rescue aircraft, he and his crew aided gunners in providing suppressive fire, enabling the aircraft to leave the landing zone unharmed. Warrant Officer Cartier’s personal bravery and devotion to duty were in keeping with the highest traditions of the military service and reflect great credit upon himself, his unit and the United States Army.