The  President of   the  United  States  takes  pleasure  in  presenting  the DISTINGUISHED FLYING CROSS to

for service as set forth in the following

                 CITATION:

                               "For heroism and extraordinary achievement in aerial flight while serving as a  Pilot with Marine Medium Helicopter Squadron 364, Marine Aircraft Group  Thirty-Six,   First  Marine  Aircraft  Wing  in  connection   with operations  against  the enemy  in the  Republic of Vietnam.  On 12 March 1968, Captain  Moore  launched  as  Aircraft  Commander  in a  flight of  eight CH-46 transport  helicopters assigned  to resupply a Marine outpost on Hill 881 South near theKhe Sanh Combat Base. Due  to deteriorating  weather  conditions,  he maneuvered his aircraft with  its external load of approximately two  tons  above the  cloud cover  and orbited  the drop  area  until fixed  wing aircraft had  com- pleted  their air strikes.  Undaunted by a heavy volume of hostile mortar,  rocket and automatic  weapons fire that damaged  his helicopter as he neared the  land- ing zone, he resolutely continued his approach and successfully released his vital cargo in  the drop zone.  Sustaining additional battle damage  as he departed the hazardous area,  he rapidly determined that  he could continue his mission while rendezvousing  with  the flight over  Khe Sanh.   When  informed  that  four  cri- tically wounded  Marines  needed immediate  medical evacuation  from the  Khe Sanh Airfield,  Captain Moore elected to attempt the  extraction despite a heavy enemy mortar  and rocket attack  against the  base.   Skillfully  maneuvering  his CH-46 through the hostile fire, he landed at the  medical  evacuation  point  and steadfastly  remained in  the exposed position until  the four casualties were  em- barked  before  expeditiously  departing  for  the  medical  facility  at  Dong  Ha. Captain Moore's courage,  superior  airmanship and selfless devotion to  duty in the face of great personal  danger contributed significantly in saving the lives  of several  Marines  and were in  keeping with the  highest traditions of  the Marine Corps and of the United States Naval Service."