The President of the United States of America takes pleasure in presenting the Silver Star to Lance Corporal Alfred J. Morrow, Jr. (MCSN: 2171423), United States Marine Corps, for conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity in action while serving with Marine Medium Helicopter Squadron ONE HUNDRED SIXTY-ONE (HMM-161), Provisional Marine Aircraft Group Thirty-Nine, FIRST Marine Aircraft Wing in connection with combat operations against the enemy in the Republic of Vietnam. On 23 March 1969, Lance Corporal Morrow launched as Crew Chief aboard a CH-46 transport helicopter assigned the emergency medical evacuation of several casualties from a Marine unit which was heavily engaged in combat with a North Vietnamese Army force. Arriving over the designated location, he observed that the presence of tall trees and the lack of a suitable landing zone necessitated utilization of a hoist. The first attempt to hover was aborted because of intense small arms fire, but the pilot made a second attempt. After lowering the hoist, Lance Corporal Morrow fearlessly maintained a dangerously exposed position as he commenced lifting the injured man toward the helicopter and, undaunted by the addition of a heavy volume of automatic weapons fire, calmly shouted firing direction to the gunners as he completed his rescue operation. Directing the pilot to a hover over a second casualty, he gain boldly exposed himself to the intense North Vietnamese Army fire as he commenced hoisting the injured man into the aircraft. When machine gun fire penetrated the helicopter, seriously wounding the pilot, rendering the electrical system inoperable, and stalling the hoist, Lance Corporal Morrow manually pulled the injured Marine aboard and then rushed to the cockpit to render any assistance that may be needed. Finding the pilot slumped over the controls, Lance Corporal Morrow pulled him back into his seat, and, rapidly assessing the situation, inspected transmission damage. Advising the copilot that a precautionary landing was indicated, he skillfully assisted in locating a relatively secure landing zone, give the pilot clearance instructions as the helicopter landed, and then quickly disembarked the crew and casualties. While the injured Marines were being assisted aboard the wingman’s helicopter which had landed nearby, he further evaluated the condition of the crippled aircraft and determined that with minor repairs to the electrical system, it could be flown to the Quang Tri Combat Base under its own power. En route to the hospital ship, he tried in vain to revive his pilot by assisting a Corpsman to perform a tracheotomy and by administering mouth-to-mouth resuscitation. His heroism and composure during a critical situation inspired all who served with him and were instrumental in averting a potential disaster. By his courage, professional skill and unwavering devotion to duty in the face of grave personal danger, Lance Corporal Morrow upheld the highest traditions of the Marine Corps and of the United States Naval Service.