The  President of   the  United  States  takes  pleasure  in  presenting  the AIR MEDAL (Gold Star in lieu of the Third 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 1 March 1969,  First Lieutenant Rush launched  as Copilot aboard a CH-46 transport  helicopter assigned the emergency medical evacuation of  three casualties from an area five miles west of An Hoa.  Arriving over the designated area,  he found that the fifty-foot high trees surrounding the pick-up site would require the use of his jungle penetrator and hoist cable with a litter attached.   Forced to abort  his first attempt to establish a hover because of the  intense hostile fire, several rounds of which struck his aircraft, First Lieuten- ant Rush skillfully monitored  his gauges and flight systems and provided a con- tinuous  flow  of  vital  information  which  enabled  his  pilot to  coordinate  his second approach with  the fire of a supporting Marine gunship and maneuver to a hover above the wounded men.  Undaunted by  the extremely heavy volume of enemy  automatic weapons  fire directed against  his CH-46, he ably  assisted his aircraft commander  in remaining in  their dangerously exposed position for  the twenty  minutes required to lift  the casualties through  the dense jungle canopy. When  all three  evacuees were  safely aboard,  First Lieutenant Rush  cleared his helicopter  to depart  the dangerous area  and proceeded  to the  nearest medical facility to disembark the patients.  First Lieutenant Rush's courage, superior air- manship  and unwavering  devotion to  duty  at great personal  risk were  instru- mental  in  the accomplishment  of  the hazardous mission  and were  in keeping with  the highest traditions of  the Marine Corps and of  the United States Naval Service."