AWARDED DFC: 2
CONFLICT/SPACE FLIGHT/EVENT:  Vietnam
MODEL:  CH-53

Citation:  1.) The President of the United States takes great pleasure in presenting the Distinguished Flying Cross to First Lieutenant Robert E. Hamilton, United States Marine Corps Reserve, for heroism while participating in aerial flight as a Pilot with Marine Light Helicopter Squadron 367, Marine Aircraft Group Sixteen, First Marine Aircraft Wing in connection with combat operations against the enemy in the Republic of Vietnam. From 28 January to 23 March 1971, First Lieutenant Hamilton participated in Operation Lam Son 719 as Aircraft Commander of an AH-1G Cobra helicopter and launched on one hundred and forty-three combat missions involving fifty-six point six flight hours to provide armed gunship support for CH-53 transport helicopters resupplying Army of the Republic of Vietnam fire support bases which were under heavy attack from North Vietnamese Army forces deep in enemy-controlled territory. Undaunted by constant exposure to intense hostile antiaircraft fire as he approached each of the beleaguered positions, he ably established and maintained communications with the supported units, passed on significant information to the transport pilots, and alertly located and attacked enemy firing positions with such devastating effectiveness that the North Vietnamese fires were suppressed sufficiently to enable the vital supplies to be released in the drop zones. On 23 February, First Lieutenant Hamilton resolutely braved the concentrated hostile fire directed at his aircraft while supplies were being delivered at besieged Fire Support Base Hotel II as he boldly executed repeated firing runs which destroyed several enemy positions and scored a directed hit on an enemy ammunition dump, causing a large secondary explosion. Again, on 11 March, he completely disregarded his own safety as he fearlessly maintained his gunship in a highly vulnerable position and delivered such accurate and highly effective covering fire that the transport helicopters were able to safely resupply Fire Support Base Sophie East. First Lieutenant Hamilton's courage, superior airmanship, and unwavering devotion to duty in the face of great personal danger were instrumental in accomplishing the hazardous missions and were in keeping with the highest traditions of the Marine Corps and of the United States Naval Service.

2.) The President of the United States takes great pleasure in presenting the Distinguished Flying Cross to First Lieutenant Robert E. Hamilton, United States Marine Corps Reserve, for heroism and extraordinary achievement in aerial flight while serving as a Pilot with Marine Light Helicopter Squadron 367, Marine Aircraft Group Sixteen, First Marine Aircraft Wing in connection with combat operations against the enemy in the Republic of Vietnam. On the evening of 28 March 1971, First Lieutenant Hamilton launched as Section Leader of a flight of two AH-1G Cobra helicopters assigned to support the emergency extraction of a Marine reconnaissance team which had sustained two casualties while heavily engaged in combat with a numerically superior hostile force in the northwestern sector of the Que Son Mountains in Quang Nam Province. Arriving over the designated area, he was briefed by the section leader he was relieving and was informed that the beleaguered patrol was located on a small knoll dominated by high mountains and was under intense rocket-propelled grenade and automatic weapons fire from three sides. Undaunted by the heavy volume of enemy fire directed at his gunship and the difficulty of maneuvering his aircraft in the darkness over the rugged terrain below a five hundred foot ceiling. First Lieutenant Hamilton, after directing a flare ship to illuminate the area and leading a transport helicopter in the dangerous area, boldly maneuvered his Cobra on repeated firing runs and delivered his ordnance with such devastating effectiveness that the fire from several enemy positions was silenced and the fire from others suppressed sufficiently to enable the transport helicopter to land and safely extract the reconnaissance team. First Lieutenant Hamilton'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.