The President of the United States of America takes pleasure in presenting the Distinguished Flying Cross to First Lieutenant Tommy L. James, United States Marine Corps, for extraordinary achievement in aerial flight while serving as Pilot with Marine Observation Squadron Two, Marine Aircraft Group Sixteen, First Marine Aircraft Wing in connection with combat operations against the enemy in the Republic of Vietnam. On the morning of 4 November 1969, First Lieutenant James launched as Section Leader of a flight of two AH-1G Cobra helicopters assigned the mission of supporting the emergency medical evacuation of three casualties from two separate Marine units conducting operations in the Que Son Mountains southwest of DaNang. After arriving over the first extraction site and finding that the extremely adverse weather conditions of a one hundred foot ceiling and driving rains would preclude an extraction attempt at that time, he led his flight to the second site and, utilizing instrument flight procedures, aided in the successful evacuation of the wounded Marines from that zone. Upon the flight’s return to the first site, the decision was made to attempt the medical evacuation despite the low overcast and the continuing rains which severely restricted visibility. After directing his wingman to lay down a smoke screen to conceal the transport helicopter’s approach, First Lieutenant James slowly and cautiously led the transport into the hazardous area, but was unable to locate the landing zone on the first three passes over the area. On the fourth pass, he sighted a Marine waving a light colored field bandage and then directed the extraction aircraft to a landing approximately forty meters from the wounded Marines. While the wounded men were being carried to the waiting helicopter, the zone came under intense fire from enemy positions along a nearby ridgeline. Reacting instantly, First Lieutenant James, undaunted by the heavy volume of hostile fire directed at his gunship, boldly maneuvered his Cobra on repeated rocket and strafing runs and delivered his ordnance with such devastating effectiveness that the enemy fire was suppressed sufficiently to enable the casualties to be embarked and the transport to lift safely out of the dangerous area. First Lieutenant James’ 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.