The President of the United States of America takes pleasure in presenting the Silver Star to Captain Christopher Bur Salmon (MCSN: 0-88969), United States Marine Corps, for conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity in action while serving with Marine Medium Helicopter Squadron THREE HUNDRED SIXTY-ONE (HMM-361), Marine Aircraft Group Sixteen, FIRST Marine Aircraft Wing, in connection with combat operations against the enemy in the Republic of Vietnam. On the morning of 21 September 1967, Captain Salmon launched as Flight Leader of five UH-34 transport helicopters assigned medical evacuation and re-supply missions in the northern I Corps Area. When one of his aircraft experienced technical difficulties, he dispatched a section of two helicopters to Dong Ha while he returned with the remaining aircraft to escort the disabled helicopter back to its base. Receiving word that the section leader’s helicopter at Dong Ha had received battle damage and the copilot had been wounded, he immediately reorganized his flight, sending one aircraft to Dong Ha to form a section and complete the assigned mission while he led the other sections to Con Thien to evacuate Marine casualties. While evacuating casualties 100 meters from Con Thien, his wingman’s helicopter was damaged by hostile fire and the pilot was wounded, forcing the aircraft to land. Immediately, Captain Salmon began to fly the more seriously injured Marines from Con Thien to Dong Ha and then commenced a single aircraft shuttle of casualties from Dong Ha to a hospital ship fifteen miles offshore. Realizing the urgency of immediate medical treatment for the more critically injured, he arranged for the hospital ship to move closer to shore, directed the remainder of his flight to evacuate the wounded from Con Thien to Dong Ha and, for the next forty-five minutes, made continuous flights to and from the hospital ship. He was undoubtedly instrumental in saving many of his fellow Marines from further pain or suffering and possible death. After completing this mission, he then resumed direct control of his flight to provide continuous re-supply of the beleaguered Marines and evacuate their casualties. When hostile rocket and artillery fire in the zone threatened to halt his re-supply and medical evacuation mission, Captain Salmon displayed exceptional resourcefulness and tactical skill by directing his flight to fly through the maximum trajectory of the friendly fire in order to expedite the movement of his aircraft. Observing the source of enemy fire, he quickly relayed the information to the air observer and assisted in directing air strikes against the hostile positions. On numerous occasions, Captain Salmon completely disregarded his own safety as he courageously remained in the zone under hostile mortar fire to complete his mission. Despite eleven hours of continuous flight during which time he directed the evacuation of over 120 wounded Marines and delivered more than 12,000 pounds of vital supplies, he refused to be relieved until he was assured that all the seriously injured Marines were safely evacuated and that sufficient supplies had been delivered to enable the ground forces to repulse all enemy attacks throughout the night. By his dauntless courage, dynamic leadership and selfless devotion to duty, Captain Salmon inspired all who observed him, contributed immeasurably to the accomplishment of the hazardous mission and upheld the highest traditions of the Marine Corps and of the United States Naval Service.