Pless Life in Pictures

The Medal of Honor, United States Naval Service. USGov Photo.

Infant Stephen Pless, 1939. Pless Archives.

Great Grandfather. Stephen left and brother Travis with their great grandfather James Norred. Photo: Pless Archives.

Stephen Pless (left) with his brother Travis in 1942. Like many children of World War II they both grew up to join the military. Photo: Pless Archive.

Stephen and brother Travis with their parents, about 1943. Photo: Pless Archives.

MARCAD Stephen Pless, USMC and brother Travis, USN. Stephen Pless joined the Marines after completing Georgia Military Academy's prep school. He had been a strong candidate for the Naval Academy, but when he was not selected, he enlisted in the Marines. While in boot camp Pless was selected for the Navy's aviation officer candidate program at Pensacola. At the time of this picture, both brothers were stationed at NAS Pensacola. Travis was an instructor in the flight simulators and Stephen was a Naval Aviation Cadet. Photo: Pless Archives.

First Solo Flight. Pless Archives.Pless posed for this official photograph in front of a T-34 Mentor trainer, the type aircraft that he soloed in during his primary flight training at Pensacola. US Gov. photo, courtesy of Pless archives.

At the time he received his wings as a Naval Aviator, Pless was reputedly the youngest Naval Aviator in the Marine Corps. His step father pinned on the wings in a ceremony at Pensacola.

In Pless's first duty assignment after completing training as a Naval Aviator and Marine Officer, Stephen Pless earned a letter of commendation from his commanding officer.

Pless flew the H-34 during several tours of duty early in his career.

Stephen Pless. Pless posed in front of an H-34, possibly during the time that he served as a flight instructor at Pensacola. One of his former flight students reported recently that Pless wore a very distinctive flight helmet, painted with a large red feather. Perhaps this is that helmet? Photo: Pless archives.

While flying with HMM-162 in Thailand and Vietnam, his squadron was developing crude "gunships" in experimental, field modified H-34's. From these early experiments modern gunship tactics and weapons systems were developed.

Captain Stephen Pless earned his jump wings at the US Army's Airborne Training School at Ft. Benning, Georgia. He was outstanding leader in a class that graduated 530 of over 800 original candidates.

Pless served for about six months, the first half of his second Vietnam tour of duty, as the Aviation Liaison Officer, to the Republic of Korea Marine Division. He commanded a small detachment of ANGLICO in that duty and was well known to the Korean General and his command staff for his initiative and improvision of tactics.

From the left Capt. Stephen Pless, LCpl D. J. Gay, door gunner, John Phelps, crewchief, and Capt. D. J. "Irish" Cobb. Picture was taken during shipboard operations off the coast of Vietnam. Photo: Pless archives.

Each of Pless's three crew members received the Navy Cross for their valor during their daring rescue mission. They were officially reputed to be the highest decorated flight crew for a single mission in American history, tied with a WWII bomber flight crew. From the left, Gunnery Sergeant Leroy N. Poulson, USMC, door gunner; Lance Cpl. John G. Phelps, USMC, crewchief; Captain Rupert E."Skeets" Fairfield, USMC, copilot, and Captain Stephen W. Pless, pilot.

Staff Sergeant Allen was the only one of the three men rescued by Pless and his crew who survived his wounds. Pless visited him in the hospital, perhaps the day following the incident. Allen was a Canadian, one of over 20,000 of his countrymen, who joined the US Military to fight in the Vietnam War.

Stephen Pless poses in the door of a Marine UH1E gunship. This is believed to be the actual aircraft that Pless flew August 19, 1967. The aircraft has been acquired by the US Marine Corps Historical Association and is being restored as a museum display.

After receiving the Medal of Honor, Pless was assigned to duties at Pensacola, Florida. In this photo he is explaining the details of the Medal of Honor rescue action, apparently at the headquarters of Bell Helicopter, the company that manufactured the UH1E helicopter that he flew on that day.

General William C. Westmoreland with Major and Mrs. Stephen Pless. General Westmoreland, Commander Military Assistance Command, Vietnam (L), with Major and Mrs. Stephen Pless at the Medal of Honor Ball the night before the Inauguration of President Nixon. Photo: Pless Archives.

Stephen Pless died in a tragic motorcycle accident while stationed in Pensacola in 1969. He was buried with full military honors at the Barancas National Cemetery in Pensacola.

Graveside service. Major Stephen W. Pless, USMC was interred at Barancas National Cemetery with full military honor befitting a Medal of Honor recipient. Photo: Pless archive.

Presenting Colors. The commander of the burial detachment presents the flag that draped his coffin to Stephen Pless's family. Photo: Pless Archives.

Mrs. Nancy Pless. Mrs. Pless was introduced as a guest of honor, christening of the USNS Benavidez, New Orleans, 2001. Years earlier she attended a similar christening for the transport ship Stephen W. Pless. Since her son's death in 1969 Mrs. Pless has attended many such official functions and reunions, standing in for him with his fellow Marines. MABS photo.

Major Stephen Pless Memorial Stone - Newnan, Georgia. MABS photo.Citizens of Newnan, Georgia erected this monument and a matching stone across the walk honoring their other native son, Colonel Joe Jackson, MOH. MABS photo.