The President of the United States of America takes pleasure in presenting the Silver Star to Corporal David John Craft (MCSN: 2360609), United States Marine Corps, for conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity in action on 11 July 1972 while serving as a Crew Chief with Marine Medium Helicopter Squadron ONE HUNDRED SIXTY-FIVE (HMM-165), during combat operations LAM SON 72 (Phase II), against communist forces near Quang Tri City, Republic of Vietnam. Corporal Cox was launched on a CH-53D carrying South Vietnamese Marines in a combat assault. As the aircraft approached the landing zone, it encountered extremely heavy ground fire and was struck by a heat seeking missile. Immediately upon impact, the aircraft burst into flames.