The President of the United States of America takes pleasure in presenting the Silver Star to First Lieutenant Hugo T. Beck (MCSN: 2241449), United States Marine Corps, for conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity in action while serving as a Pilot with Marine Medium Helicopter Squadron TWO HUNDRED SIXTY-TWO (HMM-262), Marine Aircraft Group Sixteen, FIRST Marine Aircraft Wing, in connection with combat operations against the enemy in the Republic of Vietnam. On 6 March 1970, First Lieutenant Beck launched as Aircraft Commander of the fourth aircraft in a flight of four CH-46 transport helicopters assigned the mission of inserting troops of a Civilian Irregular Defense Group into an area approximately nine miles southwest of Thuong Duck in Quang Nam Province. Following the insertion of the first wave without incident, he established an orbit as the search and rescue aircraft while the second wave commenced its approach to the landing zone. Although the transports came under intense hostile fire, the first two helicopters succeeded in disembarking their assault troops. As the third aircraft was preparing to land, it came under an extremely heavy volume of enemy automatic weapons and rocket fire and was so severely damaged that it crashed in the landing zone. Reacting instantly, First Lieutenant Beck requested the supporting gunships to provide covering fire, directed his aerial gunners to deliver maximum machine gun fire at the enemy positions, and then resolutely commenced an approach to the crash site. Undaunted by the exceptionally heavy volume of hostile fire directed at his transport, he boldly maneuvered to a hover ten meters from the downed aircraft and fearlessly remained in this precarious position while attempting to sight survivors in the crashed aircraft. At this time, the enemy fire increased in intensity and wounded all three of the crewmen in the cabin. After his helicopter received such severe battle damage that it lost all electrical power and several other critical systems, First Lieutenant Beck, having sighted no movement in the wreckage, skillfully maneuvered his crippled transport out of the perilous area and continued on a low altitude flight to Thuong Duc, where his wounded crewmen were placed aboard a medical evacuation helicopter. By his courage, superior airmanship, and unwavering devotion to duty in the face of grave personal danger, First Lieutenant Beck upheld the highest traditions of the Marine Corps and of the United States Naval Service.