The President of the United States of America takes pleasure in presenting the Navy and Marine Corps Medal to Staff Sergeant Bernd G. Doss, United States Marine Corps, for heroism while serving with Marine Medium Helicopter Squadron TWO HUNDRED SIXTY-TWO (HMM-262), Marine Aircraft Group Sixteen, FIRST Marine Aircraft Wing in the Republic of Vietnam. On 30 October 1970, Staff Sergeant Doss launched as an Aerial Gunner aboard a CH-46 transport helicopter assigned the emergency evacuation of civilians trapped by flood water which had overflowed the Hoi An River south of DaNang. Arriving over the disaster area, he found the village and surrounding lands to be under six to ten feet of water with the threatened inhabitants huddles on rooftops. There being no suitable landing zone available, the pilot hovered over the houses and lifted the frightened residents to the aircraft by means of a mechanical hoist. On one house, five people clung to the rooftop but because of trees which protruded over the residence, the pilot deemed it too dangerous to attempt a hoist rescue. Spotting a relatively shallow place in the water he hovered over it while the Vietnamese thrashed their way from the house to the aircraft. Realizing that the older people and the very young ones would be unable to negotiate the swiftly flowing water, Staff Sergeant Doss unhesitatingly leaped from the helicopter and, although burdened by his bulky clothing and equipment, repeatedly moved between the aircraft and the house, fighting the chest-deep water to aid in the rescue, on several occasions, leading a mother by one hand while carrying her child in his other arm. Staff Sergeant Doss’ courage, bold initiative, and selfless determination were instrumental in saving the lives of twenty Vietnamese people and were in keeping with the highest traditions of the Marine Corps and of the United States Naval Service.