U.S. Army Veterans Honored on 45th Anniversary of Vietnam Rescue Mission
SAIGON, VIETNAM – April 1972 – Flames engulfed the transport plane after being shot down. American soldiers flew over it in a “Huey” helicopter. They were certain there would be no survivors. But then they spotted movement among the burning wreckage. Low on fuel, they initiated a rescue mission. The helicopter gunner shot at North Vietnamese Communist forces closing in. The rest of the team pulled five airmen from the crashed C-130 Hercules plane. The rescuers then called for a second helicopter to grab two more soldiers. No Americans died in the incident.
My heart races when I read stories such as this one. American soldiers risking their lives to save others. It’s a big part of what made this the greatest country in the history of the world.
And my heart rejoiced last week. Four of those Vietnam veterans received the Silver Star, for their rescue mission, 45 years ago to the day.
The Silver Star is the third highest military combat decoration that can be awarded!
Robert Monette, Robert Frank, John Deslouriers and Leonard Shearer were finally recognized last Tuesday. Arkansas Representative French Hill presented the medals to the veterans at a ceremony in Little Rock, Arkansas.
The effort to honor these veterans has been going on for years.
The original recommendation got “lost in the shuffle,” according to Stars and Stripes. Retired Major Jack Shields commanded the “Huey” crew, and he requested that all four men receive the medals back in 2005. The Defense Department got involved. And finally it happened.
Monette, the pilot during the rescue mission, told Stars and Stripes that the medals were “unexpected, and very, very humbling.”
We’re the ones who should be humbled. Americans of every generation have benefitted tremendously from the incredible courage of our military men and women.
As many of you know, our customers help too. A portion of 4Patriots’ proceeds supports organizations that aid active and veteran U.S. military members and their families.
And it all happens because of your purchase. Thanks for helping us help the people who are the most deserving!
Thanks for recognizing our Veterans, it means alot.
Keep up the good work.
I’m a 37 year veteran and still in.
It’s always fantastic to hear of stories like this one! My paternal grandfather was at Iwo Jima for “both pictures”, if you know the controversy. He refused his “purple heart” award. My elders later demanded it. He taught us grandchildren that “war is hell” is no joke. The world’s cowardly leaders are not to blame for our situation, they merely profit off of it (as any capitalist would do). The communists are really socialists with capitalist leaders. Why do you think that we Americans live in “communities”? I don’t have enough knowledge to speak of previous wars; however, Viet Nam was about marijuana (our leaders flew it here to “bust” users and make money 3 times through the legal system)(the Hippie generation). Iraq, Pakistan, & Afghanistan are about heroin — that’s why we’re there now. Look at the present addiction crisis. Money’s being made 3 times over again (while 20-somethings die daily). I have gone out on a limb to say this. Follow my threads. It is likely that I will “disappear”. The corrupt are in power for now on this planet. We, the innocent, fortunately have hidden assets. The corrupt will never win. The corrupt have temporary victories, the just have permanent victories. May the God of All bless all truth and its followers.
i did like the story about the MEN THAT HELPED ALL OTHER MEN FROM THE BURNING PLANE. NOW US OLDER SOLDIERS DO KNOW WHAT TO DO IN ANY SITUATION. AS WE HAVE BEEN TAUGHT IN BASIC TRAINING OR BOY SCOUTS S. AND CARRIED IT THROUGH OUR LIFE’S. I WOULD LIKE TO SHARE SOME OF OUR STORIES SO MAYBE WE CAN SOLVE WHAT WE WENT THROUGH IN GERMANY BUT NEVER COULD TELL ANYONE WHAT WE DID EVERY 6 MONTHS WHILE IN EUROPE. YES WE SERVED DURING THE VIETNAM WAR. BUT THERE WAS MORE THAN ONE WAR, THERE WAS THE BOARDERS IN GERMANY THAT WE PROTECTED AND NEVER GOTTEN ANY TYPE OF ANYTHING FOR. BUT HERE 30 YEARS LATER I HAVE FOUND OUT I HAVE A LOT OF SCAPNEL. IN MY LEFT THIGH. BUT SINCE OUR COMPANY RECORD’S ARE STILL SEALED, WE CAN’T FIND OUT ANYTHING WHAT REALLY HAPPENED TO US. I DO HAVE BAD FLASH BACKS OF MANY FIGHTS AND OTHER THINGS BUT NO HELP TO FIND OUT WHAT REALLY WHAT WE DID DURING THOSE TIMES. CAN ANYONE HELP ME AND OTHERS???
Congrats to them they deserve this. Been almost 50 years for me 67/69 two tours 19 months there, now being treated for cancer caused by Agent Orange, got to say over the last three years the VA is taking good care of me.
Thanks so much for your service, Chuck. Sorry you’re having to got through this, but glad you’re one of those who the VA is taking care of.
Way to go Gentlemen Gun/Sgt Jim Campbell USMC
I applaud you for supporting Veteran organizations. I think maybe you can go one step further in supporting Veterans by offering a discount to Veterans as well.
Wow! I cannot believe it has been 45 years. I was an enlisted man, Airman First Class, Loadmaster at the time. We flew in an out of Tan Son Nhut Air Base, Saigon, Vietnam and moved refugees all over Southeast Asia. One refugee, in an attempt to cook tried to start a fire on the cabin floor. I retired in October 1997 with 24+ years of service as a Major and Commanding Officer for 3 years, 7 months of my own unit.