The President of the United States of America takes pleasure in presenting the Distinguished Flying Cross to First Lieutenant David K. Schmitz, 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. Late on the afternoon of 11 July 1970, First Lieutenant Schmitz launched as Section Leader of a flight of two CH-46 transport helicopters assigned the emergency ladder extraction of a reconnaissance team which was heavily engaged in combat with a numerically superior hostile force in a densely-jungled mountainous area west of DaNang. Arriving over the designated area as darkness closed in, he found that the beleaguered patrol was located on the side of a hill among tall trees. Guided by a strobe light on the ground, he commenced his approach behind a smoke screen laid down by Cobra gunships but was forced to abort his approach when he encountered an extremely heavy volume of enemy automatic weapons fire. After the supporting gunships attacked the hostile positions, First Lieutenant Schmitz ignored the enemy fire as he skillfully maneuvered to a hover above the pick-up site, lowered his extraction ladder down through the canopy, and remained in his precarious position until the reconnaissance team had attached themselves to the ladder. As he began to lift from the area, his helicopter began to lose power because of the altitude, the additional weight of the men suspended on the ladder beneath his transport, and the wind in the area. While maintaining a hover just clear of the trees, his helicopter came under intense hostile fire. Undaunted, First Lieutenant Schmitz directed that some of his aircraft’s fuel be jettisoned to lighten the load, advised his aerial gunners not to return fire because of the danger of igniting the fuel, and had the auxiliary power plant activated before the generator power was lost. With exceptional skill, he carefully maneuvered his aircraft to lift out of the dangerous area and then proceeded to Landing Zone 401. First Lieutenant Schmitz’s 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.