The President of the United States of America takes pleasure in presenting the Distinguished Flying Cross to First Lieutenant Gerald Leroy Berry, United States Marine Corps, for heroism and extraordinary achievement while participating in aerial flight while serving as a Pilot with Marine Medium Helicopter Squadron ONE HUNDRED SIXTY-ONE (HMM-161), 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 30 December 1969, First Lieutenant Berry launched as Section Leader of a flight of two CH-46 transport helicopters assigned the mission of inserting an eight-man Marine reconnaissance team into a mountainous area southeast of An Hoa to assess the damage resulting from a high-altitude bombing mission that had been conducted earlier that day. After directing his wingman to maintain an orbit near An Hoa to ensure radio relay and rescue capabilities, he proceeded to the insertion site. Arriving over the designated area, he quickly located a landing zone on the side of a hill which had been marked by supporting Cobra gunships and, despite marginal weather, maneuvered to a hover alongside the hill and remained in his position until all of the patrol members jumped from his ramp to the ground. Immediately after lifting from the site, both his aircraft and the Marines on the ground came under an extremely heavy volume of hostile automatic weapons fire from several enemy firing positions around the insertion area. Upon receiving an urgent request to extract the patrol, First Lieutenant Berry completely disregarded his own safety and commenced an approach to the beleaguered Marines, but was forced to abort the approach when several rounds penetrated his aircraft. Undaunted, he coordinated his second approach with the firing and simulated firing runs of the gunships, skillfully maneuvered to a hover near the Marines and fearlessly remained in his precarious position until all members of the reconnaissance team were pulled aboard the helicopter through the side cabin door by his crewmen. He then lifted out of the dangerous area and returned to An Hoa. First Lieutenant Berry’s courage, superior airmanship, and unwavering devotion to duty in the face of great personal danger were in keeping with the highest traditions of the Marine Corps and of the United States Naval Service.