supported Operation Beacon Hill. On 4 April the squadron was assigned to Marine Aircraft Group 13 at Chu Lai Base Area. In September the squadron supported Operation Swift. In October the squadron supported Operation Kingfisher. By December the squadron was assigned to Marine Aircraft Group 16 at Marble Mountain Air Facility. On 9 February 1968 the squadron became the SLF Alpha helicopter squadron. On 26 March following a rocket attack, five squadron members were wounded and required medical evacuation. During the flight up the coast the medevac helicopter lost its engine and crashed killing seven people including the commanding officer. On 15 April the squadron returned ashore under the control of MAG-36. On 6 September the squadron again became the SLF Alpha helicopter squadron. On 7 December the squadron returned ashore under MAG-36 at Phu Bai Combat Base. On 21 January 1969, the squadron was redeployed back to the U.S.. It was redesignated Marine Heavy Helicopter Squadron 36 (HMH-363) after having received the Sikorsky CH-53A transport helicopter. Post-Vietnam In October 1972, the squadron was the first unit to receive the powerful CH-53D. In March 1977, the squadron was selected to participate in the operational evaluation of the , the first of the new large and modern amphibious ships. In early 1983, the squadron was awarded the Meritorious Unit Citation. The Squadron provided relief efforts and humanitarian support in the Philippines following a devastating earthquake and flood in 1990. HMH-363 flew countless missions and over 500 flight hours in 3½ weeks, delivering food, clothing, and shelter to inhabitants living in remote areas of the Philippines. The squadron received the Humanitarian Service Medal for its relief effort. During Desert Shield/Desert Storm, HMH-363 supported the 1st Marine Aircraft Wing in Okinawa and returned to California in May 1991, terminating its unit rotations to Okinawa after this eleven-month deployment. In December 1992, the squadron participated in Operation Restore Hope in Somalia, and was awarded the Joint Meritorious Unit Commendation and Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal. The squadron has also supported Joint Task Force Six at Fort Bliss, Texas. During August 1996, the Red Lions relocated to Marine Corps Air Facility Kaneohe Bay and were reassigned to 1st Marine Aircraft Wing. Global War on Terror From late 2006 to early 2007, HMH-363 deployed to Iraq in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom. Based at Al Asad, this was the unit's first deployment in support of the Global