From: Commanding Officer
To: Secretary of the Navy (Navy Department Board of Decorations
and Awards)
Via: (1) Commanding Officer, Marine Aircraft group 36
(2) Commanding General, lst Marine Aircraft Wing
(3) Commanding General, III Marine Amphibious Force
(4) Commander, United States Military Assistance Command, Vietnam
(5) Commanding General, Fleet Marine Force, Pacific
(6) Commander in Chief, United States Pacific Fleet
(7) Commander in Chief, Pacific
(8) Commandant of the Marine Corps (Code DL)
(9) Chief of Naval Operations ( OP-09B2E)
Subj: Medal of Honor; recommendation for
Ref: (a) SecNavInst P1650.1C (revised)
(b) ForO 1650.1C
(c) FMFPacO P1650.1A
Encl: ( 1) Proposed Citation
[see paragraph 2 below...Editor]
(2) Statement of Captain Rupert E. Fairfield, USMC
(3) Statement of Gunnery Sergeant Leroy N. POULSON, USMC
(4) Statement of Lance Corporal John G. PHELPS, USMC
(5) Statement of Warrant Officer James F. VAN DUZEE, USA
(6) Statement of Warrant Officer Ronald L. REDEKER, USA
(7) Statement of Staff Sergeant Lawrence H. ALLEN, USA
(8) Pictorial Representation of Scene of Action
1. In
accordance with the provisions set forth in references (a), (b), and
(c), it is recommended that Captain Stephen Wesley PLESS, United States
Marine Corps attached to and serving with Marine Observation Squadron
Six be awarded the Medal of Honor for conspicuous gallantry and
intrepidity at the risk of his life above and beyond the call of duty.
2. On 19 August 1967, while
serving as pilot-in-command of an armed UH-1E helicopter attached to
Marine Observation Squadron Six in the Republic of Vietnam, Captain
PLESS was assigned to fly an armed escort for an H-34 Medical
Evacuation helicopter. In the course of a regularly assigned mission,
Captain PLESS monitored a call on an emergency frequency which
stated that four Americans from an aircraft forced down by enemy fire
were being attacked by a large force of Viet Cong. Heavily armed with
automatic weapons and grenades, the Viet Cong were assaulting the small
group, which was trapped on a small strip of beach.
When Captain PLESS determined that
the H-34 he was assigned to escort could proceed with the mission
unassisted, he flew directly to the area given in the distress call.
On arrival at the site, a small section of beach one mile north of the
mouth of the Song Tra Khuc River, he found that the tiny America force
by now out of ammunition, had been overwhelmed by an estimated thirty to
forty armed Viet Cong. As the Americans lay helpless on the sand, the
Viet Cong, in a frenzy, were bayoneting and beating them with rifle
butts. Several other aircraft were orbiting the area futilely, unable
to assist due to heavy enemy fire and an apparent lack of coordination.
Despite the obvious danger and
apparent hopelessness of the situation, Captain PLESS, threw his
aircraft at the enemy. As he made his first low pass directly over the
heads of the enemy troops, the Viet Cong, completely surprised, began to
move away from their victims toward the shelter of a tree line running
parallel to the beach. They were immediately subjected to a vicious
series of rocket and machine gun attacks delivered by Captain PLESS.
Pressing his attacks to below tree top level, Captain PLESS, despite the
heavy fire of the now resisting enemy troops, rained a hail of fire on
the Viet Cong, often flying through the debris of his own ordnance
explosions.
During one of these low level
attacks Captain PLESS saw one of the severely injured Americans raise
his arm and gesture for help. Completely disregarding the enemy troops
located only scant yards from the wounded, Captain PLESS maneuvered his
aircraft into a violent turn and landed between the wounded men and the
enraged enemy. Using his aircraft as a shield, Captain PLESS directed
his crew to load the Americans aboard.
Captain PLESS's aircraft remained
stationary on the beach for nearly ten minutes, subjected to attacks by
individual and groups of Viet Cong who often closed to within ten feet
of the helicopter in an attempt to destroy it.
With the Americans safely aboard,
Captain PLESS, encircled on three sides by the frantic Viet Cong, had
but one route of departure open to him. Forcing his aircraft, which was
now nearly five hundred pounds over safe take-off weight, into the air,
Captain PLESS turned out to sea. Jettisoning his empty rocket pods and
ordering his crew to throw all excess gear over-board, Captain PLESS
skipped over the water. On four separate occasions Captain PLESS's
aircraft settled onto the waves, and four times, in an unbelievable
display of airmanship, Captain PLESS brought it back into the air.
Finally becoming safely airborne, Captain PLESS set a course direct to
the nearest medical facility, while his crewmen applied first aid
enroute.
Captain PLESS, by his willingness to
expose himself to almost certain death in order to help his
comrades-in-arms, was able to thwart a determined enemy effort to kill
three of four American soldiers. In so doing, he also inflicted heavy
casualties on the heavily armed enemy force. His actions were those of
a man of uncommon bravery and ability, and were in keeping with the
highest traditions of the United States Naval Service.
3. The facts contained in the
proposed citation are completely substantiated by the statements
of eye-witnesses and contained herein as enclosures (2) through (7).
4. Captain PLESS has received
the following personal decorations: The Bronze Star Medal; The Air
Medal, 1st through 18th awards; The Navy Commendation Medal; The Purple
Heart Medal; The Korean Military Merit IN HUN.
5. Captain PLESS has been recommended
for but has not yet received the following personal awards: The Air
Medal, 19th through 36th awards.
6. Captain PLESS is due for
detachment from this organization during September 1967.
7. There are no foreign awards being recommended for
this same action.
8. Roster of VMO-6 personnel involved in this same
action
