The President of the United States of America takes pleasure in presenting the Air Medal to Corporal Alfred William Morey (MCSN: 2321746), United States Marine Corps, for heroic achievement in aerial flight while serving with Marine Heavy Helicopter Squadron FOUR HUNDRED SIXTY-THREE, Marine Aircraft Group Sixteen, FIRST Marine Aircraft Wing in connection with military operations against the enemy in the Republic of Vietnam. Late on the afternoon of 10 January 1970, Corporal Morey launched as Crew Chief aboard the second aircraft in a flight of four CH-53 transport helicopters assigned the emergency mission of re-supplying the United States Army Special Forces Camps at Thuong Duc and Nong Son in Quang Nam Province which were critically low on food and ammunition. More than a week of inclement weather had prevented flights to the beleaguered outposts. Thuong Duc had a small landing zone at the base of a mountain near the head of a valley while Nong Son was located on the top of a 1,000 foot high mountain surrounded on three sides by high ridges in an area where high winds created considerable turbulence. After his aircraft had acquired a maximum gross weight external cargo load, Corporal Morey, despite the lack of gunship support, a 1,000-foot ceiling, and extremely poor visibility caused by rain showers and approaching darkness, ably provided a continuous flow of vital clearance information as his flight proceeded up the valley toward the Thuong Duc Camp. Undaunted by the heavy volume of hostile automatic weapons fire directed at his CH-53, he alertly located and reported the sources of enemy fire which enabled his pilot to take evasive action and safely reach the drop zone where the cargo was quickly detached. On the flights to Nong Son, Corporal Morey expertly provided precise flight information which enabled his helicopter to be maneuvered through hazardous weather and terrain and, guided by the ground unit’s flashlights, accurately placed its cargo in the drop zone. Repeatedly ignoring the intense enemy fire encountered during several sorties to each of the camps, he aided his pilot in negotiating the treacherous mountain peaks in the darkness on approaches to the unfamiliar zones until his mission was completed. Corporal Morey’s courage, superior 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.