Page 10 - DFCS News Magazine Spring 2013

The President of the United States takes great pleasure in presenting the Distinguished Flying Cross to Acott, Richard Donald, Major, United States Marine Corps for heroism and extraordinary achievement in aerial flight while serving as a Pilot with Marine Attack Squadron 121, Marine Air- craft Group Twelve, First Marine Aircraft Wing in connection with opera- tions against insurgent communist (Viet Cong) forces in the Republic of Vi-
etnam. On the night of 22 February 1967, Major ACOTT launched as Flight Leader of a
section of two A-4 Skyhawk aircraft assigned to provide close air support for a Marine
ground unit which was under heavy enemy mortar fire in the Nui Lac San area south of
DaNang. Arriving over the area, he quickly located the Tactical Air Controller (Airborne)
orbiting over the mountainous terrain, despite a low haze layer. Aerial flares over the target had burned out while other flares in the area cast deep shadows over the hostile emplacements which were additionally obscured by haze and smoke. Although forced to maneuver his aircraft to avoid the aerial flares, he unhesitatingly commenced his attack. Despite intense enemy fire directed at his aircraft, he con- ducted repeated low level bombing and strafing runs, delivering his ordnance with unerring accuracy and silencing the hostilefire. Major ACOTT’s courage, exceptional aeronautical ability and unwavering devotion to duty contributed significantly to the accomplishment of the hazardous mission and were in keeping with the highest traditions of the Marine Corps and of the United States Naval Service.
Here we are. Just kids with kids. My beautiful wife Constance who had suffered though my absence for two separate thirteen-month unaccompanied tours overseas and our four chil- dren Stephen, Garret, Lorri and Phillip. I held Lorri for the first time when she was 8 months old. We are at Marine Corps Air Station Beaufort, SC. I was a 31 year old career Marine Corps Major assigned to VMA 331.
I had just been awarded a Distinguished Flying Cross which was pinned upon my chest as result of my leading an everyone shooting at everyone night close air support mission flown while I was with VMA 121. Our ground Marines were in a mountainous area, in a deadly, under gunned, shoot- ing match with Viet Cong. An overcast, black night illuminated by drifting aerial flares, attempting to give us a clue as to who was who. Our arrival added two additional targets to the mix. We hit our target, they missed theirs. Our ground bound Marines continued on their way. We flew our A4E Skyhawks back to our aluminum runway and hook and cable landing at our base at Chu Lai, Vi- etnam. It was the twenty-second day of February 1967.
The photo was taken by a Base photographer with my family in front of an A4E Skyhawk which had recently been painted with my name under the canopy. The DFC received and the photo taken in the spring of 1968.
I had flown 115 combat missions in Vietnam, had accumulated over 4200 hours of total military
flight time. I was gone too many times from my family, in addition to the two thirteen month unac-
companied tours. I had missed too many Christmas and New Years; too many birthdays. It was
time for me to be a full time husband and dad. I submitted my resignation, was held on active duty
an additional year to the day, and was released from active duty April 10, 1969, thirteen days before my thirty-third birthday.
Constance and I were married fifty-four years ago on June 28, 1958 in Miami, Florida. She was a 21 year old registered nurse andI was a 22 year old second lieutenant. We first met only six weeks before walking under the swords held by my squadron mates, in my Marine dress whites and Constance in her flowing white gown on our wedding day.
Richard D. Acott
The President of the United States takes great pleasure in presenting the Distinguished Flying Cross to Technical Sergeant William A. O’Brien for heroism while participating in aerial flight as MC-130H Personnel Recovery Parares- cueman/Casualty Evacuation Coordinator, attached to the 7th Special Operations Squadron, Joint Special Operations Air De- tachment North Constanta, Romania on 22 March 2003. On that date, he departed a forward operating base in Jordan to com- mence the first fixed wing mission of the northern offensive as part of the high risk, strategically vital mission to insertthe first United States Special Forces troops into northern Iraq. With no indigenous or coalition search and recovery airframes
available, Sergeant O’Brien, assigned to chalk four of the six-ship infiltration armada, served as the sole Personnel Recovery option, ena- bling infiltration of Special Operations combat troops into Iraq during the initial push of Operation Iraqi Freedom. The infiltrated troops were critical in keeping sixty five percent of Iraqi forces occupied in the north, easing the coalition’s southern advance. His historic flight began with 590 miles of grueling low-level flight, the longest low-level combat infiltration in any airframe since World War II. He flew as low as one hundred feet through unreported, entranced enemy camps and defensive positions, facing a harrowing barrage of anti-aircraft artillery. All thirty anti-aircraft sites fired deadly projectiles over, under, and down the sides of the aircraft. At one point, the aircraft took aimed, directed fire from ten o-clock, then seven to nine o’clock and finally from all quadrants simultaneously. The aircraft was struck by two projectiles, sustaining minor damage. Throughout the six distinct engagements, Sergeant O’Brien monitored the medical status of aircrew and passengers, maintaining calm onboard the aircraft and ensuring physical and mental readiness of aircrew members and infil- tration troops until landing. On the ground, he assisted expeditious offload of combat troops and equipment in the dark of night. Sergeant O’Brien then contacted the Landing Zone controller and ground element personnel assessing the need for medical evacuation ofinjured personnel at the Landing Zone. The outstanding heroism and selfless devotion to duty displayed by Sergeant O’Brien reflect great credit upon himself and the United States Air Force.
Spring 2013 Issue Page 10