The President of the United States of America takes pleasure in presenting the Silver Star to First Lieutenant James H. Brown (MCSN: 0-103368), United States Marine Corps, for conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity in action while serving as a Pilot with Marine Light Helicopter Squadron THREE HUNDRED SIXTY-SEVEN (HML-367), Marine Aircraft Group Sixteen, FIRST Marine Aircraft Wing, in connection with combat operations against the enemy in the Republic of Vietnam. On 2 December 1969, First Lieutenant Brown launched as Wingman in a flight of two armed UH-1E helicopters assigned the mission of supporting the emergency extraction of a reconnaissance team which was surrounded and heavily engaged in combat with a platoon-sized North Vietnamese Army force deep in enemy-controlled territory. Undaunted by the extremely heavy volume of hostile fire directed at his aircraft when he arrived at the designated area, he coordinated his attacks with the strikes of Cobra gunships and skillfully executed repeated rocket and strafing runs upon the enemy positions. When his section leader’s helicopter was struck by hostile fire and crashed in the dense jungle, First Lieutenant Brown assumed control of the aircraft on station and boldly led the Cobras on a series of devastating attacks on all sides of the crash site, which suppressed the North Vietnamese fire sufficiently to permit a transport helicopter to extract an injured aerial gunner. After refueling and rearming his aircraft at Quang Tri, he reorganized the flight and returned to the crash site. Undeterred by deteriorating weather conditions, First Lieutenant Brown fearlessly maneuvered his gunship through the hail of hostile fire and delivered his ordnance with exceptional precision to within thirty meters of the downed crew, suppressing the enemy fire sufficiently to allow the remaining crew members to be extracted. Returning to the reconnaissance patrol, he bravely led the Cobra gunships on repeated rocket and strafing runs which destroyed several North Vietnamese positions. Another transport helicopter was called in and, under the steady volume of covering fire delivered by the flight of gunships, successfully evacuated two wounded team members. While leading his flight in the darkness over the rugged terrain to Quang Tri, First Lieutenant Brown was informed that, as a result of the devastating strikes by his flight which forced the enemy to break contact and withdraw, the remainder of the reconnaissance team would be able to remain at their position until the following day. By his courage, superior airmanship, and unwavering devotion to duty in the face of great personal danger, First Lieutenant Brown upheld the highest traditions of the Marine Corps and of the United States Naval Service.