The  President  of  the United States takes pleasure  in  presenting  the   AIR MEDAL (Bronze Star for the First Award) to

for service as set forth in the following

                 CITATION:

                               "For heroic achievement  in aerial  flight while  serving  with 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  28 March 1968, Sergeant WILLIAMS launched as an Aerial Gunner aboard  the third aircraft  in a flight of ten CH-46 helicopters assigned  to resupply the Marine outpost on Hill 881 near Khe Sanh. When one  of the aircraft  was forced  to make an  emergency landing  in  enemy controlled  territory due  to  battle damage,  his pilot  volunteered to  extract the downed crew  which was heavily  engaged with  North Vietnamese  soldiers.  The first landing  was made 100 meters from the  disabled helicopter.   As his aircraft came under intense hostile fire,  Sergeant WILLIAMS  delivered a heavy volume of  suppressive fire  which enabled his  pilot to lift from the zone  and  maneuver the   helicopter  to  a   landing   within  twenty-five   meters  of  the   beleaguered Marines.   Ignoring the increasing intensity  of North Vietnamese fire, he contin- ued  to man his  weapon and  deliver a  heavy volume  of fire against  the enemy positions.  When a  fellow  aerial  gunner  was  wounded,  Sergeant  WILLIAMS unhesitatingly moved to his comrade's weapon and delivered effective return fire to counter  the enemy fire  directed at  the aircraft.   When the downed  crew was unable  to embark because of the extreme  heavy enemy fire,  the pilot  lifted out of the fire-swept zone to prevent  further damage  to his aircraft or  injury to the crew  and  directed armed  helicopter attacks  against the  North Vietnamese em- placements.  During a  third landing in the zone, Sergeant WILLIAMS provided accurate covering fire that allowed the crew chief to exit the aircraft and lead the beleaguered  crew to his  helicopter which  subsequently departed  the hazardous area  for  the  medical  facility   at  Dong Ha.    Sergeant  WILLIAMS'  courage, superior  professionalism and  steadfast devotion  to duty at  great personal  risk were  instrumental  in  the  evacuation of  the  downed  crew members  from  the hazardous area  and were in  keeping with  the  highest  traditions of  the Marine Corps and of the United States Naval Service."