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  afternoon  of  2 November 1969, Lance Corporal Lawrence  launched as an  aerial Gunner aboard a CH-46 trans- port   helicopter  assigned  the  emergency  mission  of  extracting  a   seven-man Marine  reconnaissance team  which had discovered  an enemy staging area base camp five  miles west of An Hoa and was heavily engaged in combat with a large North Vietnamese Army force.  Arriving  over  the designated area as fixed-wing aircraft were completing air strikes, he was informed that  the beleaguered patrol was  surrounded by  the enemy and  under intense  hostile small  arms and auto- matic  weapons  fire.  Undaunted by  the extremely heavy  volume of  enemy fire directed at his helicopter,  Lance Corporal Lawrence  ably  coordinated  his  fire with  the  rocket  and strafing runs of  supporting  gunships  and OV-10  Bronco aircraft  and boldly delivered  accurate and  highly effective machine gun fire on the North Vietnamese positions.  As a result of  the devastating friendly fire,  the enemy  fire was suppressed  sufficiently to allow  his CH-46 to be maneuvered to a landing  with only its  main mount  resting on the  edge of a  narrow ridge  line above  a  deep  ravine.    With  complete  disregard  for  his  own  safety,   Lance Corporal  Lawrence  continued  to  deliver effective  machine gun  fire  until  the reconnaissance team was aboard and his aircraft departed the area for  DaNang. Lance Corporal Lawrence's  courage, superior professionalism,  and unwavering devotion to duty at great personal risk  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."