Foil: 6 Panel: Distinguished Flying Cross Society Column: 2 Line: 31

Wall of Honor Level:
Air and Space Friend

Honored by:

Distinguished Flying Cross
"For heroism and extraordinary achievement in aerial flight while serving with Marine Light Helicopter Squadron 367, Marine Aircraft Group Thirty-Six, First Marine Aircraft Wing in connection with combat operations against the enemy in the Republic of Vietnam Late on the afternoon of 22 August 1969, Lance Corporal Beaulieu launched as Crew Chief aboard the lead aircraft in a flight of two armed UH-1E helicopters assigned the mission of supporting the emergency extraction of a nine-man reconnaissance patrol which was heavily engaged in combat with a North Vietnamese Army force deep in enemy-controlled territory. Arriving over the designated area, he alertly observed and reported the sources of hostile fire and provided a continuous flow of clearance information which enabled his aircraft to execute repeated rocket and strafing runs against the enemy automatic weapons emplacements. When one of the extraction helicopters was severely damaged, Lance Corporal Beaulieu sighted the stricken aircraft and, reporting the situation to his pilot, guided his gunship to the disabled aircraft and aided in providing covering fire while the damaged helicopter landed and another transport helicopter extracted the downed crew. Despite the total darkness when his gunship returned to the beleaguered patrol, he delivered such highly effective machine gun fire that the North Vietnamese fire was suppressed sufficiently to enable the first extraction aircraft to maintain a hover while four team members attached themselves to the extraction ropes which were lowered eighty feet into the zone, and then lift safely out of the dangerous area. Undaunted by the constant threat of hostile fire, Lance Corporal Beaulieu continued to provide precise flight clearance data as his gunship covered the second transport helicopter as it lowered five ropes into the zone and successfully extracted the remaining team members. When he observed the five men become imperiled when their ropes became entangled, he reported the situation to his pilot and kept him appraised of the situation as the flight slowed and adopted actions which enabled the reconnaissance team to be safely landed at the Vandegrift Combat Base. Lance Corporal Beaulieu s courage, superior professionalism, and unwavering devotion to duty at great personal risk were in keeping with the highest traditions of the Marine Corps and of the United States Naval Service. "