The President of the United States of America takes pleasure in presenting a Second Gold Star in lieu of a Third Award of the Distinguished Flying Cross to Major Dennis N. Anderson (MCSN: 0-71864), United States Marine Corps, for heroism and extraordinary achievement while participating in aerial flight while serving as a Pilot with Marine Medium Helicopter Squadron TWO HUNDRED SIXTY-THREE (HMM-263), Marine Aircraft Group SIXTEEN, FIRST Marine Aircraft Wing, in connection with military operations against the enemy in the Republic of Vietnam. On the morning of 31 October 1970, Major Anderson launched as Section Leader of a flight of two CH-46 transport helicopters assigned the emergency medical evacuation of a seriously wounded Marine from a unit operating in the Que Son Mountains. For several days Quang Nam Province had been ravaged by torrential rains and a typhoon which had left thousands homeless and stranded by rising flood waters. Despite a low ceiling varying from two to three hundred feet and winds gusting to forty-five knots, Major Anderson navigated to the northern slopes of the Que Son Mountains and, guided by instructions from the ground unit which utilized the sounds of his engines to determine his position, skillfully air taxied through the dense overcast up the side of the mountain until he reached the landing site. After embarking the casualty, he proceeded to Fire Support Base BALDY and transferred the wounded man to another aircraft. When instructed that Marines at four separate positions on the Que Son Mountains had been without food for five days, Major Anderson resolutely elected to attempt the re-supply mission. Undaunted by the intensity of the hostile fire directed at his aircraft which inflicted some damage and the difficulty of maneuvering his aircraft under the low overcast in inclement weather, he proceed to the southern slopes of the Que Son Mountains and maneuvered his transport with exceptional skill into each of the Marine sites to deliver the vital supplies. Upon being notified by the DaNang Direct Air Support Center to bring his flight north to support the evacuation of desperate flood victims endangered by rising flood waters, he proceeded to the designated area and for six hours expertly executed landings and hover positions near the stranded Vietnamese, embarked the survivors and transported them to places of safety. Major Anderson’s courage, superior airmanship, and unwavering devotion to duty earned the respect and admiration of 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 Third Gold Star in lieu of a Fourth Award of the Distinguished Flying Cross to Major Dennis N. Anderson (MCSN: 0-71864), United States Marine Corps, for heroism while participating in aerial flight as a Pilot with Marine Medium Helicopter Squadron TWO HUNDRED SIXTY-THREE (HMM-263), Marine Aircraft Group SIXTEEN, FIRST Marine Aircraft Wing, in connection with combat operations against the enemy in the Republic of Vietnam. Late on the afternoon of 27 February 1971, Major Anderson launched as Section Leader of a flight of two CH-46 transport helicopters assigned the emergency extraction of a Marine reconnaissance team which had sustained two heat casualties while heavily engaged in combat with a hostile force in a densely-jungled area in the western sector of the Que Son Mountains in Quang Nam Province. Arriving over the designated area, he found that the beleaguered patrol was located on the steep slope of a fifteen hundred foot high mountain and was under intense enemy automatic weapons and small arms fire. When the patrol was unable to locate and move to a suitable landing zone, the decision was made to immediately attempt a hoist extraction because of impending darkness and the team’s condition. Undaunted by the heavy volume of enemy fire directed at his aircraft, Major Anderson skillfully maneuvered his transport to a hover above the endangered Marines and resolutely remained in his precarious position while the extraction rig was lowered through the canopy and the members of the team attached themselves to the line. After all of the Marines were firmly secured to the line, Major Anderson carefully lifted out of the dangerous area and proceeded to An Hoa where the team was lowered to the ground and embarked. The flight then continued on to Landing Zone 401. Major Anderson’s courage, superior airmanship, and unwavering devotion to duty in the face of great personal danger were instrumental in accomplishing the hazardous mission 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 the Distinguished Flying Cross to Major Dennis N. Anderson (MCSN: 0-71864), United States Marine Corps, for heroism and extraordinary achievement while participating in aerial flight as a Helicopter Aircraft commander of a CH-46A transport helicopter while serving with Marine Medium Helicopter Squadron ONE HUNDRED SIXTY-FIVE (HMM-165), on the night of 8 March 1967 in Quang Ngai Province, Republic of Vietnam. Major Anderson was the section leader of a two-plane flight assigned a night emergency extraction of a beleaguered United States Marine Corps reconnaissance team. The team was located in a valley, encircled on three sides by mountains towering to three thousand feet. Although the night was black and the weather was characterized by low ceiling and poor visibility, Major Anderson led his flight to the intended pick up zone. Upon arrival, he commenced his approach through a stream of enemy tracers using a single hand held strobe light to guide him to the intended zone. While in his initial approach the strobe light was extinguished, forcing him to wave-off and attempt to relocate the zone. Finally, the zone was re-marked with the single strobe light, and using it as a reference, Major Anderson once more penetrated the maze of enemy tracers to the team’s location. Upon reaching the intended zone, Major Anderson realized that the zone was too small to safely accommodate his helicopter, so he expertly maneuvered to an adjacent area where he was able to safely hover and retrieve the entire team. Once the last member was on board, Major Anderson safely departed the area and returned the team to base. His courage and selfless action in the face of personal danger was in keeping with the highest traditions 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 Major Dennis N. Anderson (MCSN: 0-71864), 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-FIVE (HMM-165), Marine Aircraft Group THIRTY-SIX, FIRST Marine Aircraft Wing in connection with military operations against insurgent communist (Viet Cong) forces in the Republic of Vietnam. On the night of 21 April 1967, Major Anderson launched as Flight Leader of a section of two CH-45A transport helicopters assigned the mission of extracting a Marine reconnaissance team located on a heavily forested mountain slope. Despite a low cloud cover, fog and darkness, he displayed exceptional aeronautical ability and resolute determination by skillfully maneuvering his aircraft above the tree tops until he located the reconnaissance team’s position. Due to the confined, tree-surrounded landing area and rugged mountain terrain, a landing was impossible. Quickly evaluating the situation and realizing that the team would have to be hoisted out of the area, Major Anderson established a steady hover. Using a tree top for reference, he steadfastly remained in this precarious position for nearly one hour until seven members of the team were safely aboard the aircraft. Realizing that his depleted fuel supply forced him to return to Ky Ha, he directed his wingman to continue the extraction operation and departed the area. Major Anderson’s professional skill, bold initiative and selfless devotion to duty were in keeping with the highest traditions of the Marine Corps and of the United States Naval Service.