The President of the United States of America takes pleasure in presenting the Distinguished Flying Cross to Gunnery Sergeant Gerald Wayne Carstensen, United States Marine Corps, for heroism while participating in aerial flight as an aerial observer with Sub Unit One, First Air and Naval Gunfire Liaison Company, in connection with combat operations against the enemy in the Republic of Vietnam. On 7 April 1972, Gunnery Sergeant Carstensen launched as aerial observer aboard a Vietnamese Air Force observation aircraft on an aerial reconnaissance mission to locate and mark hostile artillery positions. As his aircraft was proceeding to low altitude just south of the Demilitarized Zone, it was struck by a surface-to-air missile and both Gunnery Sergeant Carstensen and his pilot were wounded. Remaining calm, he assisted in navigating the severely damaged aircraft out of the hostile area and provided a steady flow of flight information which enabled his Vietnamese pilot to execute a safe landing at Quang Tri. Upon learning that a Marine pilot was downed in the same enemy infested area, he unhesitatingly volunteered to participate in the rescue mission and disregarded his own safety as he directed the light observation aircraft in repeated low altitude runs over the hostile terrain in a vain attempt to locate the crew of the downed aircraft. Gunnery Sergeant Carstensen’s courage, superb professionalism, and unwavering devotion to duty at great personal risk earned the respect and admiration of all who served with him and were in keeping with the highest traditions of the United States Naval Service.