The  Secretary  of  the  Navy  takes  pleasure  in  presenting  the
NAVY COMMENDATION MEDAL to

for service as set forth in the following

       CITATION:

      "For Meritorious achievement while serving as the Noncommissioned Officer  in charge of the  Quality Assurance Division  of Marine  Medium Helicopter Squadron 364,  Marine Aircraft  Group Sixteen,  First Marine Aircraft Wing  in connection with combat  operations against  the enemy in  the  Republic  of  Vietnam.   On  the  evening  of  1  September  1969, Gunnery Sergeant Horn was informed that a typhoon with winds averag- ing sixty-five knots was approaching the Quang Tri Air Base and was due to strike at daybreak the following morning.   Immediately proceeding to the  flight  line,  he began securing  the CH-46 helicopters  with tie downs and  buttoned  down  all  loose  cowlings  and  hatches.   In  addition,  he secured  all  loose gear  such  as spare  rotor  blades and  ground support equipment  and   moved  certain  items  of  equipment  to  relatively  safe areas.   The  following  morning,   Gunnery  Sergeant  Horn  ignored  the heavy rain  as he quickly inspected  the area to ensure  that all was firmly secured.   As the wind began to rise in tempo,  he observed a broken nose wheel  locking pin on one of his aircraft and rapidly sandbagged the nose gear to prevent  it  from  being  blown  against  the  revetment.   He  then found  that the  rotorbrake  on  another  CH-46 had  failed,  causing  the forward  head  to  spin  rapidly  in  the  wind.   When  two  Marines  were unsuccessful  in  the  blades and the blades began  droop and rotate close to the ground,   Gunnery  Sergeant  Horn instructed  the men to move to safety.  Despite  high winds,  heavy rain,  and  slippery  matting,  he  con- tinued his determined efforts to catch the blades until he finally managed to  secure  the  blades  by   using  a  tie  down  from  the  aft  rotor  head. Throughout  the  day,  he  repeatedly  disregarded  his  own  safety  as he placed  sandbag around aircraft  landing gears to prevent  the helicopters from  turning or sliding and  took all other necessary action to safeguard his  aircraft  until  the  winds  subsided.    By  his  professionalism,   bold initiative,   and  unwavering  devotion   to  duty  at  great  personal  risk, Gunnery Sergeant Horn  prevented extensive damage to  his aircraft  and upheld the finest traditions of the Marine Corps and of the United States Naval Service." 

The Combat Distinguishing Device is authorized.