Hosted by PJs
in Vietnam
Last Update:
Friday, July 18, 2008
Site Mission:
Provide Pararescue
and
Air Rescue History
Silver Star Recipients
Link to list of all USAF decorations and their order of precedence
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The Silver Star is the third highest military award for heroism. The Silver Star may be awarded to any person who,
while serving in any capacity with the Armed Forces of the United States, is
cited for gallantry in action;
(1) against an enemy of the
United States; (2) while engaged in military operations involving conflict
with an opposing foreign force; or, (3) while serving with friendly foreign
forces engaged in armed conflict against an opposing armed force in which the
United States is not a belligerent party. The Silver Star is awarded
when the heroic actions fall just short of warranting the Air Force Cross.
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PJ Medal's Trivia - At least 79 PJs were awarded the Silver Star. Three PJ's were recipients of both a Silver Star and an Air Force Cross (King, Hackney and McGrath). Five PJs received three Silver Stars (Cormier, Lester, Locker, Morrow, and Young) and ten PJ's received two Silver Stars (Avery, Curtis, Eldridge, Fisk, McComb, McQuoid, Musnicki, Pleiman, Stanaland, and Williamson). One father and son were each awarded a Silver Star (Dave & Steve Rhody).
During the Vietnam War, hundreds of Airman's Medals, Distinguished Flying Crosses, Silver Stars, Air Force Crosses, and one Medal of Honor were awarded to Pararescuemen. This elite group of men were one of the most heavily decorated, if not the most decorated, groups of enlisted Air Force men in the history of that war. This is an extraordinary number considering that no more than seventy-five Pararescuemen served at any one time in Vietnam or Thailand.
Since the Vietnam War, two PJs have been awarded
the Air Force Cross and two others the Silver
Star. The Air Force Cross recipients were Timothy A. Wilkinson for
action in Somalia and Jason Cunningham for action in Afghanistan. The
Silver Star recipients were Scott Fales for action in Somalia and Keary Miller for
action in Afghanistan. The tradition of heroism continues with this band
of brothers known as PJs. All of them certainly have lived up to their
motto "That Other's May Live."
The below list has the majority of Pararescue recipients but
it is still missing a
few. In addition to the certified names on this site, we are trying to identify
and certify others. The list of
certified and suspected missing names can be found at the blue link.
If you have the narratives for any of these individuals; or, if you know of any
other PJs awarded the Silver Star, contact me at
rlapointe@gci.net
Why are
other air rescue aircrew members who have been awarded the Silver Silver
Star not listed on this website?
The blue hyperlinks in the below table will take you to the citation of the
Silver Star for the individual selected. Unless otherwise stated,
the award was for actions in the Vietnam War.
Other Air Rescue
Personnel
Awarded the Silver Star
The below list was compiled by this webmaster
and serves as a starting point in identifying other Air Rescue personnel
who have been awarded the Silver Star. You may require
Adobe PDF Reader to open the narrative. If you know of any
other Air Rescue individuals awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross, contact me at
rlapointe@gci.net
| KARLTON I. BAKKE, 26 February 1971 - HH53 Pilot |
| JOE E. BALLINGER, 17 May 1965 - HH43 Pilot (narrative not available) |
| DUANE I. BELAND, 30 October 1968 - HH3 FE (narrative not available) |
| MARVIN F. BRENAMAN, 17 May 1965 - HH43 FE (narrative not available) |
| ROYAL C. BROWN, 21 November 1970 - HH53 Pilot |
| ROYAL C. BROWN, 13 March 1971 - HH53 Pilot |
| EUSTACE M. BUNN, 21 November 1970 - Sandy Pilot (narrative not available) |
| JAMES W. COCKERILL, 26 August 1972 - Combat Photographer |
| JAMES W. COCKERILL, 18 November 1972 - Combat Photographer |
| JAMES W. COCKERILL, 27 December 1972 - Combat Photographer |
| HARRY S. COPPERTHITE, 13 March 1971 - HH53 Pilot |
| HERSHEL E. FANNIN, 26 August 1972, HH-53 FE |
| JAMES R. GOCHNAUER, 21 November 1970 - Sandy Pilot (narrative not available) |
| GERALD R. HELMICH, 12 November 1968 - Sandy Pilot |
| BRUCE C. HEPP, 17 May 1965 - HH43 Pilot (narrative not available) |
| ARON P. HODGES, 21 November 1970 - HH53 FE (narrative not available) |
| CHARLES G. JACK, 13 March 1971 - HH53 FE |
| DONALD LABARRE, 21 November 1970 - HH53 FE (narrative not available) |
| CARLOS J. McKINNEY, 26 February 1971 - HH53 FE |
| CHARLIE J. MONTGOMERY, 21 November 1970 - HH53 FE (narrative not available) |
| ALFRED C. MONTREM, 21 November 1970 - HH53 Pilot (narrative not available) |
| KENNETH MURPHY, 21 November 1970 - HH53 FE (narrative not available) |
| FRANK J. PEHR, 13 March 1971 - HH53 Pilot |
|
MIGUEL A. PEREIRA , 27 December 1972 - HH53 Pilot (narrative not available) |
| WILLIAM N. PRIVETTE, 18 July 1967 - HH3 Pilot (narrative not available) |
| EDWIN J. RHEIN, 21 November 1970 - Sandy Pilot (narrative not available) |
| David A. Richardson, 1 to 2 June 1968 - HH-3 Pilot (narrative not available) |
| JACK C. RITTICHIER, 9 June 1968, H-3 Pilot (USCG) |
| WILLIAM A. ROBINSON, 17 May 1965 - HH43 FE (narrative not available) |
| ROBERTO RODRIQUEZ, 17 May 1965 - HH43 FE (narrative not available) |
| STANLEYO. SCHAETZLE, 17 May 1965 - HH43 Pilot (narrative not available) |
|
RICHARD D. SHAPIRO, 27 December 1972, Vietnam - HH53 Pilot (narrative not available) |
| JERRY W. SHIPMAN, 21 December 1972 - HH53 Pilot |
| RICHARD S. SKEELS, 21 November 1970 - Sandy Pilot (narrative not available) |
| JOHN C. SQUIRES, 21 November 1970 - Sandy Pilot (narrative not available) |
| MAURICE F. TASKER, 21 November 1970 HH53 FE (narrative not available) |
| KENNETH F. TOBIASON, 19 August 1967 - F100 Pilot |
| WALTER F. TURK, 17 May 1965 HH43 Pilot (narrative not available) |
| THOMAS R. WALDRON, 21 November 1970 - HH53 Pilot |
| JOHN R. WEIMER, 26 February 1971 - HH53 Pilot |
| RICHARD C. YEEND - HH-3 Pilot |
| HERBERT E. ZEHNDER, 21 November 1970 - HH3 Pilot (narrative not available) |
| THEODORE A. ZERBE, 18 July 1967 - HH3 FE (narrative not available) |
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