The President of the United States of America takes pleasure in presenting the Distinguished Flying Cross to Captain Laurence A. Walker, United States Marine Corps, for heroism and extraordinary achievement while participating in aerial flight while serving as a Pilot with Marine Fighter/Attack Squadron THREE HUNDDRED THIRTY-FOUR (VMFA-334), Marine Aircraft Group THIRTEEN, FIRST Marine Aircraft Wing in connection with combat operations against the enemy in the Republic of Vietnam. On 11 July 1969, Captain Walker launched as Section Leader of a flight of two F-4 Phantom aircraft assigned the mission of supporting the emergency extraction of a Marine reconnaissance team that was surrounded by a large North Vietnamese Army force in a mountainous area near the Vandegrift Combat Base. Arriving over the designated location, he was informed by the Tactical Air Controller (Airborne) that the hostile unit was as close as fifty meters to the Marines and that a previous extraction attempt had been aborted because of intense enemy fire. With complete disregard for his own safety, Captain Walker commenced his attack against the North Vietnamese Army soldiers and, despite a heavy volume of hostile fire, relentlessly pressed his assault during numerous low-altitude runs. Although turbulent winds constituted a constant threat to accuracy, he delivered his ordnance on target unerringly, thereby enabling helicopters to extract the beleaguered team. Captain Walker’s courage, superior aeronautical ability, and unwavering devotion to duty in the face of grave personal danger inspired all who observed him 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 a Gold Star in lieu of a Second Award of the Distinguished Flying Cross to Captain Laurence A. Walker, United States Marine Corps, for heroism and extraordinary achievement while participating in aerial flight while serving as a Pilot with Marine Fighter/Attack Squadron THREE HUNDDRED THIRTY-FOUR (VMFA-334), Marine Aircraft Group THIRTEEN, FIRST Marine Aircraft Wing in connection with combat operations against the enemy in the Republic of Vietnam. On 23 May 1969, Captain Walker launched as Wingman in a flight of two F-4 Phantom aircraft assigned the mission of providing close air support for an Army of the Republic of Vietnam company that was heavily engaged in combat with a hostile force west of Chu Lai. Arriving over the designated area, he was briefed by the Tactical Air Controller (Airborne) and informed that five wounded Vietnamese were lying in an open area at the foot of a hill fifty meters below a bunker occupied by hostile soldiers, and that the remainder of the friendly company was pinned down in an open field nearby. Each time one of the injured men moved, the enemy would roll a grenade down on his position, causing further injuries. Realizing that the proximity of the Vietnamese to the hostile force would require extremely precise ordnance delivery, Captain Walker, undaunted by the intensity of the hostile fire directed against his aircraft, skillfully maneuvered his Phantom on repeated bombing runs and delivered his ordnance upon the target with pinpoint accuracy, forcing the hostile soldiers to abandon their position and withdraw 100 meters to a small valley. Following highly effective bombing and strafing runs upon the retreating force, Captain Walker boldly executed repeated simulated strafing runs which suppressed the enemy fire sufficiently to enable the Vietnamese to run across the open terrain and recover their fallen comrades. Captain Walker’s courage, superior airmanship, and unwavering devotion to duty in the face of great personal danger were instrumental in the accomplishment of the hazardous missions and were in keeping with the highest traditions of the Marine Corps and of the United States Naval Service.