Narative not available - The following was excerpted from the ARRS History July 1972 thru June 1974:

In January 1974, Captain Jerry W. Shipman was awarded the Silver Star for heroism as a rescue helicopter pilot in SEA. On 21 December 1971, he performed a night recovery mission over hostile territory in Laos, where he hovered his HH-53 within 100 feet of the rugged terrain while two downed airmen were hoisted to safety. This was the first successful night recovery using the Limited Night Recovery System (LNRS) which later became the MH-53 Pave Low System.