The President of the United States of America takes pleasure in presenting the Silver Star to First Lieutenant Donald N. Persky (MCSN: 0-106640), United States Marine Corps, for conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity in action while serving with Marine Medium Helicopter Squadron FOUR HUNDRED SIXTY-THREE (HMM-463), Marine Aircraft Group Sixteen, FIRST Marine Aircraft Wing, in connection with combat operations against the enemy in the Republic of Vietnam. On 11 September 1970, First Lieutenant Persky launched as Pilot aboard the second aircraft in a flight of five CH-53 transport helicopters assigned the mission of inserting a large Marine force into enemy-controlled territory to interdict vital enemy supply routes. En route, he was forced to fly at a dangerously low level because of the extremely dense cloud cover and because of the threat from radar-controlled hostile anti-aircraft fire. As a result of his superb airmanship, however, he was able to execute evasive maneuvers which avoided both the rugged mountain peaks and the anti-aircraft weapons fire from enemy soldiers on the ground. As the first transport in the flight was disembarking its passengers, the aircraft came under a heavy volume of fire but, realizing the importance of the operation, First Lieutenant Persky nevertheless elected to accomplish his mission. Although he, too, was subjected to intense hostile fire he resolutely remained in his dangerously exposed position until all Marines had exited his helicopter before departing from the hazardous area. On 14 September, First Lieutenant Persky launched in the same capacity aboard the third helicopter to effect the emergency extraction of the ground unit which had sustained several casualties when it became heavily engaged in combat with a numerically superior North Vietnamese Army force. As the preceding transports were embarking their passengers they came under withering fire from several directions. Fully aware of the danger he faced, but observing that the remainder of the ground unit was surrounded and in imminent danger of being overrun if not lifted out immediately, he fearlessly landed his helicopter in the fire-swept zone. Throughout the embarkation procedures he valiantly maintained his dangerously exposed position, even though rounds penetrating his aircraft had ruptured an overhead fuel line and seriously wounded one of his gunners and despite the fact that he could easily observe the enemy charging across the site toward his transport. As the last Marine boarded, First Lieutenant Persky quickly applied full power and lifted from the hazardous area but during the ascent, experienced a failure in one of his engines. This adversity combined with the excess number of personnel aboard placed an extreme strain on his remaining engine which, shortly thereafter, also failed. Reacting immediately, he exercised all of his aeronautical ability to enter a full autorotation as he quickly searched for a place to execute an emergency landing and, after skillfully maintaining altitude for several minutes, located a river bank which, although somewhat inclined, appeared to be the only available place to set down. Fighting throughout to retain control of his helicopter, he directed it toward the river bank where, with utmost skill and precision he executed a landing. Although the aircraft sustained considerable damage, he exited as quickly as possible, assisted all other personnel to disembark and rapidly established a defensive perimeter while awaiting rescue by another helicopter. By his courage, valiant efforts, and unfaltering devotion to duty in the face of grave personal danger, First Lieutenant Persky saved the lives of several Marines and upheld the highest traditions of the Marine Corps and of the United States Naval Service.