The President of the United States of America takes pleasure in presenting the Silver Star to Captain Richard Joseph Hooton, Jr. (MCSN: 0-88161), United States Marine Corps, for conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity in action while serving as a Pilot Headquarters and Maintenance Squadron THIRTY-SIX, Marine Aircraft Group Thirty-Six, First Marine Aircraft Wing, in connection with military operations against the enemy in the Republic of Vietnam. On the afternoon of 8 February 1969, after successfully extracting two men that had been seriously wounded by enemy artillery fire from First Support Base CUNNINGHAM, Captain Hooton as Aircraft Commander aboard a UH-34 helicopter was assigned to attempt the emergency extraction of a critically injured Marine from Fire Support Base NEVILLE south of the Demilitarized Zone. Undaunted by the knowledge that other helicopters were unsuccessful in their attempts to reach the Marine position which was located on a precipitous ridge totally covered by a low cloud cover he removed all essential equipment from his aircraft and launched on his hazardous mission. Arriving at the designated area and finding that the cloud cover extended 800 feet above the landing zone, Captain Hooton completely disregarded his own safety as he meticulously monitored his instruments and equipment and cautiously maneuvered into the overcast and skillfully directed his UH-34 to a landing in an extremely small area above the fire support base. Embarking the injured man he lifted out of the area, broke through the cloud cover and expeditiously departed for the Quang Tri medical facility. When informed that the relief column dispatched to re-supply the isolated Marines had arrived at the fire support base with four casualties that required immediate evacuation, Captain Hooton ignored approaching darkness and an even lower cloud cover as he unhesitatingly returned to the hazardous position and boldly maneuvered his helicopter to a landing in the confined site. Rapidly embarking the four Marines, he again skillfully maneuvered his UH-34 through the overcast and departed for the medical facility at Quang Tri. By his courage, superior airmanship and unswerving devotion to duty in the face of great personal danger Captain Hooton upheld the highest traditions of the Marine Corps and of the United States Naval Service.