MERITORIOUS SERVICE AND SUPERIOR PROFESSIONAL ACHIEVEMENT WHILE SERVING WITH HEADQUARTERS AND SERVICE BATTALION, FIRST FORCE SERVICE REGIMENT/FORCE LOGISTIC COMMAND IN CONNECTION WITH COMBAT OPERATIONS AGAINST THE ENEMY IN THE REPUBLIC OF VIETNAM, FROM 21 OCTOBER 1970 TO 15 JUNE 1971, PETTY OFFICER FURLONG PERFORMED HIS DUTIES IN AN EXEMPLARY AND HIGHLY COMPETENT MANNER. AS THE ADMINISTRATIVE CHIEF OF THE BATTALION AID STATION, HE DISPLAYED OUTSTANDING INITIATIVE AND PERSEVERANCE, DESPITE THE EXTREMELY ADVERSE CONDITIONS AND DIFFICULTIES ASSOCIATED WITH A COMBAT ENVIRONMENT. BY HIS CONSISTENTLY HIGH LEVEL OF EFFICIENCY, HE MATERIALLY ENHANCED THE OPERATIONAL EFFECTIVENESS OF HIS COMMAND AND GAINED THE RESPECT AND ADMIRATION OF ALL WHO ASSOCIATED WITH HIM. WORKING TIRELESSLY AND WITH METICULOUS ATTENTION TO DETAIL, HE ABLY SUPERVISED AND COORDINATED THE NUMEROUS ACTIVITIES OF HIS SECTION AND ENSURED THAT NEW OPERATING POLICIES AND ADMINISTRATIVE DIRECTIVES WERE ACCURATELY INTERPRETED AND QUICKLY DISSEMINATED TO SUBORDINATE UNITS. TASKED WITH THE MEDICAL ADMINISTRATIVE RESPONSIBILITY FOR THREE BATTALIONS, PETTY OFFICER FURLONG SKILLFULLY ENSURED THE ACCURATE PREPARATION AND TIMELY SUBMISSION OF ALL REQUIRED REPORTS AND AFFILIATED CORRESPONDENCE TO HIGHER HEADQUARTERS, THEREBY CONTRIBUTING SIGNIFICANTLY TO THE ACCOMPLISHMENT OF HIS COMMAND'S MISSION. PETTY OFFICER FURLONG'S OUTSTANDING PROFESSIONAL ABILITY, UNTIRING DETERMINATION, AND STEADFAST DEVOTION TO DUTY THROUGHOUT HIS TOUR IN THE REPUBLIC OF VIETNAM REFLECT GREAT CREDIT UPON HIMSELF, THE MARINE CORPS, AND THE UNITED STATES NAVAL SERVICE. THE COMBAT DISTINGUISHING DEVICE IS AUTHORIZED.