The  President  of  the  United States  takes  pleasure  in  presenting  the  AIR MEDAL (Gold Star in lieu of the Second 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 4 January 1970, Corporal Crider  launched  as an  Aerial Gunner aboard  the second aircraft  in a flight of three transport helicopters assigned  the mission of inserting a long-range recon- naissance team  into an  enemy-controlled  area approximately  thirty-five  miles west  of Chu Lai.   Arriving over  the designated area,  he alertly  provided clear- ance  information which  enabled his aircraft to land,  disembark the patrol, and lift  out of  the area  without incident.  After  returning to  his base to  refuel  the helicopter,  Corporal Crider  was  informed  that  the  reconnaissance  team  had made contact with a numerically superior North Vietnamese Army force  and re- quired an immediate extraction.  Upon returning to the insertion area, his trans- port  landed  safely near  the beleaguered patrol,  but before the  Marines  could embark,  the  aircraft  came  under  intense  hostile  fire.  Undaunted,   Corporal Crider  boldly manned  his weapon  and  delivered  such  accurate  and  effective machine gun fire upon  the hostile positions that  the enemy fire was  suppressed sufficiently  to enable  the reconnaissance  team to embark  and  the transport to depart the dangerous area. Corporal Crider's courage, superior airmanship, and unwavering   devotion  to  duty  at  great   personal  risk   were  instrumental   in accomplishing  the hazardous mission and were  in keeping with  the highest tra- ditions of the Marine Corps and of the United States Naval Service.