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 Benjamin L. Williams, 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 afternoon of 13 January 1970, First Lieutenant Williams launched as Division Leader of a flight of three CH-46 transport helicopters assigned the emergency extraction of a Marine reconnaissance team which was operating in a mountainous area in Quang Nam Province. Arriving over the designated area, he found that the beleaguered patrol was unable to move from its position on a ledge because of a sheer drop of one thousand five hundred feet to the valley below and enemy soldiers who were in firing positions above the ledge. Undaunted by the constant threat of hostile fire and turbulent weather conditions, First Lieutenant Williams ably coordinated his approach with the suppressive fire of supporting gunships and skillfully maneuvered his aircraft to a hover with his ramp level with the ledge but a few feet away because of the proximity of his rotor blades to the mountainside. Expertly manipulating his controls, he maintained a stable hover while each of the Marines jumped aboard and then quickly departed the hazardous area. Later that day, First Lieutenant Williams responded to an urgent request to extract an eight-man long-range reconnaissance patrol from the slopes of a mountain which overlooked Thuong Duc. The team had captured large quantities of valuable documents and equipment from an enemy base camp, but were able to move only four hundred meters from the camp before realizing that the vital material they had obtained would hamper their movements and expose them to hostile action. Undeterred by a dense cloud cover over the rugged terrain and the intensity of the enemy fire directed at his CH-46, First Lieutenant Williams boldly maneuvered his helicopter on the only possible avenue of approach, maneuvered to a hover three feet above the obstacle strewn zone, and resolutely maintained his precarious position until all the Marines and their materials were aboard his aircraft before departing the dangerous area. First Lieutenant Williams’ courage, superior airmanship, and unwavering devotion to duty in the face of great personal danger were instrumental in accomplishing the hazardous missions 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 the Distinguished Flying Cross to First Lieutenant Benjamin L. Williams, 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 the afternoon of 26 August 1969, First Lieutenant Williams launched as Co-pilot aboard the second aircraft in a flight of two CH-46 transport helicopters assigned the emergency medical evacuation of Marine casualties from an unsecured zone in a mountainous area of Quang Nam Province. When his section leader’s aircraft reached an altitude of approximately 800 feet during its approach to the landing zone, it came under an extremely heavy volume of enemy machine gun fire from hostile positions on ridges along both sides of its run-in heading, was extensively damaged, and crash landed in flames fifty meters from the medical evacuation site. When his pilot commenced a tight, spiral approach to the downed CH-46, First Lieutenant Williams ignored the intense hostile fire as he skillfully monitored his instruments and equipment, alertly located and directed the fire of his crewmen on enemy positions, and provided a continuous flow of vital information which enabled his pilot to maneuver to a landing 100 meters from the burning aircraft. Undaunted by the intensity of the hostile fire directed at his helicopter and enemy rocket-propelled rounds impacting in the area, he operated the ramp, called out sources of hostile fire and assisted his pilot in holding his CH-46 in its precarious position until all six members of the downed aircraft had embarked. Providing precise flight data, he then aided his pilot in maneuvering out of the perilous area. First Lieutenant Williams’ courage, superior airmanship, and unwavering devotion to duty in the face of great personal danger were instrumental in saving the lives of his fellow Marines and were in keeping with the highest traditions of the Marine Corps and of the United States Naval Service.