The President of the United States of America, authorized by Act of Congress, July 2, 1926, takes pleasure in presenting a Gold Star in lieu of a Second Award of the Distinguished Flying Cross to Chief Warrant Officer (CW-2) John H. Mallette, United States Army, for heroism while participating in aerial flight evidenced by voluntary actions above and beyond the call of duty on 8 April 1970 while serving as a helicopter pilot with Headquarters and Headquarters Troop, 2d Squadron, 11th Armored Cavalry Regiment, in the Republic of Vietnam. On this date Warrant Officer Mallette was flying the Squadron Operations Officer on a visual reconnaissance mission when his crew chief spotted a freshly used jungle trail. Following the trail at tree top level, Warrant Officer Mallette spotted a reinforced North Vietnamese Army unit preparing a well-fortified ambush site. His craft soon received intense antiaircraft fire, thus revealing the enemy position to Troop E, which was 600 meters from the contact scene. Warrant Officer Mallette was wounded in the leg from the machinegun fire directed at his craft. With calm deliberation, he flew phasing patterns to extricate his craft from the enemy ground fire. Warrant Officer Mallette noticed that the oil pressure was quickly diminishing. While still under intense enemy fire and with his leg bleeding profusely, he maneuvered his helicopter to a point behind Troop E and carefully landed without further damaging the craft or injuring the two occupants aboard Chief Warrant Officer Mallette’s actions were in keeping with the highest traditions of the military service and reflect great credit upon himself, his unit and the United States Army.