The President of the United States of America takes pleasure in presenting the Distinguished Flying Cross to First Lieutenant John R. Harris, United States Marine Corps, for heroism and extraordinary achievement in aerial flight while serving with Marine Medium Helicopter Squadron THREE HUNDRED SIXTY-FOUR (HMM-364), Marine Aircraft Group Sixteen, First Marine Aircraft Wing in connection with combat operations against the enemy in the Republic of Vietnam. On 7 May 1969, First Lieutenant Harris launched as Copilot aboard the lead aircraft in a flight of three CH-46 transport helicopters assigned the mission of inserting a Marine reconnaissance team into an area near a suspected enemy base camp five miles southwest of An Hoa. When his aircraft encountered intense hostile ground fire during its first approach to the landing zone and was forced to abort its landing attempt, he skillfully monitored his gauges, maintained constant radio communications with supporting aircraft, and provided a continuous flow of vital information which enabled his helicopter to be maneuvered to a landing in an alternate insertion site. While the eight-man team was disembarking, it came under an extremely heavy volume of enemy small arms and automatic weapons fire and quickly began to re-board the CH-46. Advised that all the Marines were aboard, First Lieutenant Harris was assisting his pilot to lift out of the area when he received a report that three team members were still on the ground. Undaunted by the intensity of the hostile fire directed against his helicopter, he calmly manned his equipment and instruments and aided at the controls as he boldly assisted in maneuvering his CH-46 to a landing and resolutely aided in maintaining his aircraft in its dangerously exposed position until the three men had embarked. As the CH-46 began to lift out of the dangerous area, one of the team members was struck by an enemy round and thrown from the ramp to the ground. When informed of the incident, First Lieutenant Harris ignored the heavy volume of hostile fire as he provided precise flight data which enabled his helicopter to land in the dangerous area and steadfastly remain in its precarious position for the fifteen minutes required for two Marines to locate the seriously injured and unconscious man, carry him to the helicopter, and place him aboard. He then cleared his pilot to lift out of the hazardous area and proceed to the medical facility at An Hoa. First Lieutenant Harris’ courage, superior airmanship and unwavering devotion to duty in the face of great personal danger were instrumental in saving the lives of several of his fellow Marines 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 Gold Star in lieu of a Second Award of the Distinguished Flying Cross to First Lieutenant John R. Harris, United States Marine Corps, for heroism and extraordinary achievement in aerial flight while serving as a Pilot with Marine Medium Helicopter Squadron THREE HUNDRED SIXTY-FOUR (HMM-364), Marine Aircraft Group Sixteen, First Marine Aircraft Wing in connection with combat operations against the enemy in the Republic of Vietnam. On the night of 21 July 1969, First Lieutenant Harris launched as Section Leader of a flight of two CH-46 transport helicopters assigned the emergency medical evacuation of five casualties from a Marine unit which was heavily engaged in combat with a hostile force eighteen miles southwest of DaNang. Arriving over the designated area, he found that the small landing zone was surrounded by trees, contained numerous bomb craters, and was marked only by a flashing strobe light. When his aircraft came under intense enemy mortar, small arms, and automatic weapons fire and was severely damaged as it landed in the confined zone, First Lieutenant Harris quickly directed his CH-46 out of the fire-swept area and established an orbit over the landing zone while his crew chief assessed the damage. Determining that his aircraft was still in operating condition, and deeply concerned for the wounded Marines, First Lieutenant Harris resolutely elected to continue the extraction attempt. Undaunted by the heavy volume of enemy fire directed at his aircraft, he reentered the hazardous area, executed a landing, and fearlessly remained in his precarious position on the ground until the casualties were placed aboard. Despite the extensive damage sustained by his CH-46 from hostile fire, he skillfully maneuvered out of the perilous area and proceeded to the hospital at DaNang. First Lieutenant Harris’ 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 a Second Gold Star in lieu of a Third Award of the Distinguished Flying Cross to First Lieutenant John R. Harris, United States Marine Corps, for heroism and extraordinary achievement in aerial flight while serving as a Pilot with Marine Medium Helicopter Squadron THREE HUNDRED SIXTY-FOUR (HMM-364), Marine Aircraft Group Sixteen, First Marine Aircraft Wing in connection with combat operations against the enemy in the Republic of Vietnam. On the evening of 21 October 1969, First Lieutenant Harris launched as a Section Leader of two CH-46 transport helicopters assigned the mission of inserting an eleven-man reaction force to reinforce a seven-man Marine reconnaissance team which had sustained five casualties while heavily engaged in combat with a numerically superior hostile force approximately twenty-one miles southwest of DaNang. When extremely adverse weather conditions prevented the insertion, he maneuvered his aircraft on an orbit of the area during the ensuing seven hours while awaiting an improvement in the weather. At that time, the weather cleared sufficiently to enable another helicopter to insert an eight-man reconnaissance team which, shortly after landing, sustained six casualties. Undaunted by the intense enemy automatic weapons fire directed at his aircraft, First Lieutenant Harris ignored the darkness and hazardous terrain as he skillfully maneuvered to a landing near the wounded Marines. After the reaction force debarked and quickly placed the six casualties aboard, he lifted out of the dangerous area and proceeded to the medical facility at DaNang. Undeterred by the deteriorating weather conditions which severely restricted both visibility and his area of maneuverability, First Lieutenant Harris resolutely returned to the beleaguered Marines and boldly maneuvered his CH-46 on several different approaches to the landing zone until he was able to locate the ground unit and land nearby. With complete disregard for his own safety, he remained in his precarious position until the five remaining casualties were embarked before lifting out of the perilous area through the dense cloud cover and departing for DaNang. First Lieutenant Harris’ courage, superior airmanship, and unwavering devotion to duty in the face of great personal danger were instrumental in the accomplishment of the hazardous mission and were in keeping with the highest traditions of the Marine Corps and of the United States Naval Service.