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 Sixteen,  First Marine Aircraft  Wing  in  connec- tion  with  combat  operations  against  the  enemy  in  the  Republic  of Vietnam.    On  the    morning  of   18  January  1970,   Major  Gulledge launched as  Aircraft Commander of a transport  helicopter assigned the mission  of  an  emergency extraction  of a seven-man Marine reconnais- sance team which was surrounded and  heavily  engaged in combat  with a  numerically  superior  hostile  force  in a  mountainous area of Quang Nam  Province.   Arriving  over   the  designated  area,  he  was  given  a zone  brief  and  was  informed  that  the  team  had  moved  halfway up a steep hillside and had cleared  a small landing zone.   With exceptional skill, Major Gulledge  executed a  high speed approach  to  the zone and then backed toward the hillside until he had established a  partial  hover with  only  two  wheels  touching  the  ground.   When  his  aircraft came under  intense  enemy fire and his ramp had been forced shut after strik- ing  the  undergrowth  in  the  area,  he  completely  disregarded his own safety  as  he  resolutely  remained  in  his precarious position until each member of the beleaguered patrol had been pulled  aboard  through  the small  opening  over the top of the ramp.   Undaunted by  the heavy vol- ume of fire from hostile positions on the hillside, Major Gulledge calmly maneuvered  his  helicopter  to avoid the trees in the area and succeeded in safely  lifting  out of the dangerous  area and  then inserted the recon- naissance team into another area where it  continued its  surveillance  of enemy  activities.   Major Gulledge's  courage, superior airmanship, and unwavering devotion to duty in the  face of  great personal  danger were instrumental   in  accomplishing  the   hazardous  mission   and  were  in keeping  with  the  highest  traditions  of  the  Marine  Corps  and of the United States Naval Service."