Air Force Cross Awarded for
Vietnam War Heroism: Ret ired
Air National Guard CMSgt. Dennis Richardson has been awarded the Air
Force Cross for his actions aboard a HH-53 rescue helicopter during
a perilous mission over
Vietnam in March 1968. Richardson received the award,
USAF's second highest honor for valor, during a ceremony
April 5 at
the Francis S. Gabreski Airport in
Westhampton Beach, N.Y., home of his former unit, the
New York ANG's
106th Rescue Wing. Nearly 300 members of the
wing attended the event. "In an extraordinary display of courage and
valor, Richardson, despite his wounds, leaned far outside the door
of his helicopter and neutralized charging enemy combatants who
appeared intent on boarding," reads his citation. "It was a long,
scary day, and I don't think I did anything different than the rest
of the crew," Richardson said. He was in one of two HH-53s
dispatched on March 14, 1968 to rescue the aircrew of a downed F-4
Phantom. Although the helicopters repeatedly moved in to make a
pick-up, they were driven away by gunfire and both sustained heavy
damage. Richardson displayed exceptional courage when he stood
unprotected in the door of his helicopter to drive off the enemy,
said
retired Brig. Gen. Frank Cardile, a pilot on the
mission who presented the medal to the chief. Richardson was one of
four crew members that day to be recommended for awards; the three
other men received Silver Stars, but Richardson's award for the
Cross, though granted, "was lost in paperwork," according to an
NYANG release. Last December, following the resurrection of the
paper trail by an unnamed "military history buff," an Air Force
review panel confirmed the award. (N.Y. ANG
report by Lt. Col. Eric Durr)
|
ired
Air National Guard CMSgt. Dennis Richardson has been awarded the Air
Force Cross for his actions aboard a HH-53 rescue helicopter during
a perilous mission over
Vietnam in March 1968. Richardson received the award,
USAF's second highest honor for valor, during a ceremony
April 5 at
the Francis S. Gabreski Airport in
Westhampton Beach, N.Y., home of his former unit, the
New York ANG's
106th Rescue Wing. Nearly 300 members of the
wing attended the event. "In an extraordinary display of courage and
valor, Richardson, despite his wounds, leaned far outside the door
of his helicopter and neutralized charging enemy combatants who
appeared intent on boarding," reads his citation. "It was a long,
scary day, and I don't think I did anything different than the rest
of the crew," Richardson said. He was in one of two HH-53s
dispatched on March 14, 1968 to rescue the aircrew of a downed F-4
Phantom. Although the helicopters repeatedly moved in to make a
pick-up, they were driven away by gunfire and both sustained heavy
damage. Richardson displayed exceptional courage when he stood
unprotected in the door of his helicopter to drive off the enemy,
said
retired Brig. Gen. Frank Cardile, a pilot on the
mission who presented the medal to the chief. Richardson was one of
four crew members that day to be recommended for awards; the three
other men received Silver Stars, but Richardson's award for the
Cross, though granted, "was lost in paperwork," according to an
NYANG release. Last December, following the resurrection of the
paper trail by an unnamed "military history buff," an Air Force
review panel confirmed the award. (N.Y. ANG
report by Lt. Col. Eric Durr)