The Secretary of the Navy takes pleasure in presenting the NAVY ACHIEVEMENT MEDAL to

                        STAFF SERGEANT THOMAS M. RUTHERFORD

                      UNITED STATES MARINE CORPS

For services as set forth in the following

    CITATION:

               “For professional achievement in the superior performance of his duties while serving as Basic Training Noncommissioned Officer, Marine Aviation Training Support Group-90, Naval Air Station, Memphis, Millington, Tennessee from 8 April 1969 to 19 October 1970.  Staff Sergeant  RUTHERFORD consistently performed his demanding duties in an exemplary and highly professional manner.  Displaying exceptional skill and resourcefulness, he maintained his section at maximum operational efficiency, thereby contributing to the outstanding basic training posture of this command.  Effectively building and organizing the commands first Training Library, he established sound policies and procedures which resulted in the orderly handling and control of vital manuals and reference material.  In addition, Staff Sergeant RUTHERFORD initiated a highly successful training program.  Moreover, he was directly responsible for a very popular, live heliborne assault on an "enemy" fortified position, during an Armed Forces show viewed by the Assistant Secretary of Defense.  This production was televised to over 25,000 civilian personnel.  Participates in this endeavor included the Navy's Blue Angels and the Army's Golden Knights.  SSgt Rutherford worked with the FBI to prevent an assassination attempt on a high-level government official.  His diligent efforts and resourcefulness inspired all who observed him and contributed significantly to the accomplishment of his unit's mission.  Staff Sergeant RUTHERFORD's exceptional professional ability, initiative, and loyal dedication to duty reflect great credit upon himself, the Marine Corps, and  the United States Naval Service."     

B. M. STREAN                       Vice Admiral, U. S. Navy     Chief of Naval Air Training

For the Secretary,

THOMAS M. RUTHERFORD