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 the morning of 17 December  1968, First Lieutenant Casciano  launched as Copilot aboard  the lead aircraft  in a flight of eight CH-46 transport  helicopters assigned to insert elements of a Marine infan- try  battalion  into  enemy  controlled  territory east of  An Hoa  in  Quang Nam Province.  Arriving over  the designated area,  the aircraft commenced its appro- ach  to  the  landing  zone and came  under a heavy volume  of hostile  fire.  Un- daunted by the intense enemy fire,  First Lieutenant Casciano calmly assisted the pilot  in  entering  the hazardous position, directing the debarkation of Marines, and  in expeditiously departing  the site.  During  four  additional  insertions,  he fearlessly monitored the instruments, directed the fire of the aerial gunners upon hostile  positions, and provided effective assistance in piloting  the aircraft.  First Lieutenant  Casciano's  courage,  exceptional  aeronautical ability and steadfast  devotion to duty in the face of great personal danger contributed to the accomp- lishment  of  the hazardous mission and were in keeping with  the  highest  tradi- tions of the Marine Corps and of the United States Naval Service."