The President of the United States of America takes pleasure in presenting a Gold Star in lieu of a Second Award of the Distinguished Flying Cross to First Lieutenant Larry W. Britton, United States Marine Corps, for extraordinary achievement in aerial flight while serving as a Pilot with Marine Medium Helicopter Squadron THREE HUNDRED SIXTY-FOUR (HMM-364), Marine Aircraft Group Sixteen, First Marine Aircraft Wing in connection with combat operations against the enemy in the Republic of Vietnam. On the afternoon of September 9, 1969, Lieutenant Britton launched as Aircraft Commander of a CH-46 transport helicopter assigned the mission of inserting one reconnaissance team and extracting another which was in contact with a North Vietnamese Army force in a densely-jungled, mountainous area in Quang Nam Province. Upon reaching the site, he found that the patrol was unable to reach the pick-up area. Moving to an alternate site, he hovered two feet above the ground until all members of the new patrol were on the ground. He then returned to the beleaguered patrol which was located on a heavily wooded hillside. Lieutenant Britton maneuvered to a dangerously exposed position above the 100 foot tall trees and commenced his extraction attempt. But, after only one man was aboard the aircraft, the hoisting cable malfunctioned, forcing movement to a more suitable extraction site. Only 75 meters from enemy positions, he maneuvered skillfully under cover of a smoke screen, and backed into a narrow, confined landing zone surrounded by tall trees. Although under intense enemy fire, he held his position until all members of the team were extracted. First Lieutenant Britton’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.

The President of the United States of America takes pleasure in presenting the Distinguished Flying Cross to First Lieutenant Larry W. Britton, United States Marine Corps, for heroism and extraordinary achievement in aerial flight while serving as a Pilot with Marine Medium Helicopter Squadron THREE HUNDRED SIXTY-FOUR (HMM-364), Marine Aircraft Group Sixteen, First Marine Aircraft Wing in connection with combat operations against the enemy in the Republic of Vietnam. On the afternoon of 25 August 1969, First Lieutenant Britton launched as Section Leader of a flight of two CH-46 transport helicopters assigned the emergency mission of helilifting reinforcements to a Marine unit which was heavily engaged in combat with a large North Vietnamese Army force north of Landing Zone West in Quang Nam Province. Embarking his first increment at Landing Zone Baldy, he proceeded to the designated area and resolutely ignored the intense hostile fire directed at his aircraft as he skillfully coordinated his approach with the fire of supporting gun ships, landed in a fire-swept area, debarked the Marines, and lifted out of the hazardous zone. Following the successful insertion of the second and third increments, First Lieutenant Britton responded to an urgent request to extract thirty-four Marines, including four casualties, who were isolated from their unit and in imminent danger of being overrun by a numerically superior hostile force which had managed to gain positions to the front and on both flanks of the Marines. Undaunted by darkness and the extremely heavy volume of North Vietnamese fire, he fearlessly maneuvered his CH-46 into the precarious area, extracted the beleaguered Marines, quickly returned them to their parent unit, and then proceeded to Landing Zone Baldy with the casualties. When informed of an emergency request to re-supply the embattled Marine unit with ammunition, First Lieutenant Britton unhesitatingly responded. Acquiring a double external load of ammunition, he completely disregarded his own safety as he braved the intense hostile fire for the fifth time that day to enter the perilous area and discharge the vitally needed cargo. First Lieutenant Britton’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.