The President of the United States of America takes pleasure in presenting the Distinguished Flying Cross to Major Lawrence Paul Reiman, 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 Thirty-Six, First Marine Aircraft Wing in connection with operations against insurgent communist (Viet Cong) forces in the Republic of Vietnam. On the night of 24 December 1967. Major Reiman launched as Section Leader of a flight of two CH-46 transport helicopters assigned to extract an eight man Marine reconnaissance team which was under attack by a numerically superior enemy force northwest of Khe Sanh Combat Base. Arriving over the designated area, he established radio contact with the Marines and learned that the team had only two magazines of ammunition remaining and the enemy force was within thirty meters of the team’s position. Realizing the seriousness of the situation, Major Reiman elected to attempt the extraction immediately. With complete disregard for his own safety, he commenced his approach and came under intense enemy automatic weapons and small arms fire. Ignoring the hostile fire, he hovered over the landing zone and landed after backing his helicopter into a position near the team. Calmly directing the fire of his crewmen, Major Reiman waited until the entire team was embarked and then, lifting from the fire-swept zone as his gunners provided suppressive fire, returned to Khe Sanh. His exceptional aeronautical ability and sincere concern for the welfare of his comrades were a inspiration to all who served with him and contributed significantly to the accomplishment of the hazardous mission. Major Reiman’s courage, superb airmanship and unwavering devotion to duty in the face of great personal danger 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 Major Lawrence Paul Reiman, United States Marine Corps, for 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 Major Lawrence Paul Reiman, 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 Thirty-Six, First Marine Aircraft Wing in connection with operations against the enemy in the Republic of Vietnam. On 12 March 1968, Major Reiman launched as Section Leader in a flight of eight CH-46 transport helicopters assigned to re-supply a Marine outpost on Hill 881 South near the Khe Sanh Combat Base. Due to deteriorating weather conditions, he maneuvered his aircraft with its external load of approximately two tons above the cloud cover and orbited the drop area until fixed wing aircraft had completed their air strikes. Undaunted by a heavy volume of hostile mortar, rocket and automatic weapons fire that damaged his helicopter as he neared the landing zone, he resolutely continued his approach and successfully released his vital cargo in the drop zone. Sustaining additional battle damage as he departed the hazardous area, he rapidly determined that he could continue his mission while rendezvousing with the flight over Khe Sanh. When requested to medically evacuate seven wounded Marines from the Khe Sanh Airfield, Major Reiman ignored a heavy enemy mortar and rocket attack against the base while unhesitatingly commencing his approach and skillfully maneuvering his CH-46 to a landing near the medical evacuation zone. As the casualties were being placed aboard the helicopter, a mortar round exploded ten meters from the aircraft, re-wounding three of the evacuees and seriously injuring four of the litter bearers. Completely disregarding his own safety, Major Reiman steadfastly remained in the hazardous area until all eleven wounded men were embarked and expeditiously delivered his passengers to the medical facility at Dong Ha. Major Reiman’s courage, superior airmanship and unwavering devotion to duty in the face of great personal danger contributed significantly in saving the lives of several Marines and were in keeping with the highest traditions of the Marine Corps and of the United States Naval Service.