The President of the United States of America takes pleasure in presenting the Distinguished Flying Cross to Captain Frank Paul Accomando (MCSN: 0-72645), United States Marine Corps, for heroism and extraordinary achievement while participating in aerial flight while serving as an Aircraft Commander with Marine Medium Helicopter Squadron TWO HUNDRED SIXTY-ONE (HMM-261), in connection with military operations against insurgent communist (Viet Cong) forces in the Republic of Vietnam. On 19 March 1966, Captain Accomando was assigned as a Section Leader in a flight of ten UH-34D helicopters on a mission to transport reinforcement troops into the outpost of An Hoa, which was rumored to have been overrun by the enemy during the previous night. As the flight waited at altitude, a visual reconnaissance of the outpost area was made and a report issued that all appeared quiet and that Vietnamese civilians and military personnel had waved in a friendly manner to the aircraft. However, as the first two aircraft were about to land, intense anti-aircraft, small arms and automatic weapons fire was initiated by Viet Cong in ambush positions all around the landing zone. Undaunted by the withering fire, Captain Accomando skillfully landed his aircraft and disembarked his load of Vietnamese military personnel. During his valiant effort, his aircraft sustained six damaging hits from enemy fire. He safely returned to the staging area at Quang Ngai and had the helicopter repaired in time to participate as an escort aircraft in the subsequent retraction of the stranded Vietnamese. Subsequent intelligence revealed that the enemy force consisted of a North Vietnamese infantry regiment supported by an anti-aircraft battalion, and that their captives had been forced to lure the Marine helicopters into the trap. Captain Accomando’s outstanding aeronautical skill, fortitude in the face of extreme danger and unswerving devotion to duty throughout were in keeping with the highest traditions of the United States Naval Service.