The President of the United States takes pleasure in presenting
The NAVY CROSS to
First Lieutenant Anthony Paskevich, United States Marine Corps Reserve
For service as set forth in the following
CITATION

The President of the United States takes pleasure in presenting the Navy Cross to Anthony Paskevich, Jr. (0-94196), Captain [then First Lieutenant], U.S. Marine Corps (Reserve), for extraordinary heroism while serving with Marine Observation Squadron TWO (VMO-2), Marine Aircraft Group SIXTEEN, First Marine Aircraft Wing in connection with combat operations against the enemy in the Republic of Vietnam. On 17 March 1969, Captain Paskevich launched as the Pilot of an armed helicopter assigned the mission of supporting a Marine company which was heavily engaged in combat with a large North Vietnamese Army force near An Hoe in Quang Nam Province. Arriving over the designated location, he was informed that the unit on the ground had sustained several casualties and was pinned down in an open rice paddy by a heavy volume of automatic weapons fire. With skill and daring, Captain Paskevich commenced a series of rocket and machine gun attacks on enemy positions, flying dangerously low because of the deteriorating weather conditions. Observing that the ground unit was still unable to attain its objective because of the heavy volume of fire from the numerically superior enemy force and because it was encumbered by its casualties, Captain Paskevich landed his helicopter between the opposing units and succeeded in embarking a seriously wounded Marine. Skillfully evading the enemy fire, he then delivered the casualty to An Hoa. During the next four-hour period, he refueled and rearmed seven times as he repeatedly returned to the hazardous area to provide assistance for the beleaguered company. On three additional occasions, he landed his helicopter in the open area subjected to intense hostile fire, several rounds of which penetrated and extensively damaged his aircraft, to ensure the medical evacuation of critical casualties. Seemingly oblivious to the enemy fire directed against him, he repeatedly maneuvered over the enemy lines, destroying machine-gun and antiaircraft emplacements, thereby turning a potential disaster into a decisive Marine victory. Captain Paskevich’s indomitable courage, bold initiative, and unfaltering devotion to duty in the face of grave personal danger were instrumental in saving the lives of four fellow Marines and were in keeping with the highest traditions of the Marine Corps and of the United States Naval Service.

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