The President of the United States of America takes pleasure in presenting the Distinguished Flying Cross to Captain Rodney Harry Alley, Jr. (MCSN: 0-76581), United States Marine Corps, for heroism and extraordinary achievement while participating in aerial flight as a Pilot with Marine Observation Squadron THREE (VMO-3), Marine Aircraft Group Sixteen, FIRST Marine Aircraft Wing, in connection with military operations against the enemy in the Republic of Vietnam. On 10 May 1967, Captain Alley, as Pilot of an armed UH-1E helicopter, was launched on the mission of supporting an emergency extraction of three remaining survivors of a Marine reconnaissance team under siege for twelve hours near Khe Sanh in Quang Tri Province by an estimated 150 North Vietnamese Regulars. With the situation on the ground appearing hopeless for the survivors, all of whom were wounded and out of ammunition, Captain Alley resolutely directed continuous accurate rocket and machine gun fire on the assaulting communist forces. Four attempts were made to extract the encircled Marines, all of which failed with four helicopters damaged by enemy ground fire, one pilot wounded and another killed. Repeatedly, in the face of intense enemy fire, he made firing runs at an altitude of five to ten feet, delivering his ordnance with pinpoint accuracy, often within feet of the besieged patrol. By his aggressive efforts and outstanding airmanship, Captain Alley was instrumental in the successful extraction of the surviving patrol members and was an inspiration to all who observed him. Captain Alley’s determination, extraordinary aeronautical ability and selfless devotion to duty were in keeping with the highest traditions of the Marine Corps and of the United States Naval Service.