Page 5 - DFCS News Magazine Summer 2014

The President of the United States takes great pleasure in presen ng the Dis nguished Flying Cross to Major Bruce P. Crandall for heroism while par cipa ng in aerial flight on 14 November 1965 in the Republic of Vietnam while serving as Aircra Com- mander and Flight Commander of twenty-five UH-1D helicopters on a combat assault and volunteer medical evacua on mission. Major Crandall’s flight was li ing troops on a search and destroy mission from Plei Me, Vietnam to a landing zone in the Ia Drang Valley, approximately ten miles to the west of Plei Me. Four successful airli s had been completed with no enemy ac vity. On the fi h and final troop li , the landing zone came under intense enemy small arms, automa c weapons, mortar and rocket fire, as the
first eight helicopters landed to discharge troops. The troops on Major Crandall’s aircra suffered six casual es, three wounded and three killed as they were exi ng his aircra . The remaining aircra wai ng to land were ordered to abort due to the intense fire. Upon returning to his base of opera ons, Major Crandall learned that a request for medical evacua on had been received. He immediately sought volunteers and with com- plete disregard for his own personal safety, he immediately took off and led two aircra to the area despite the fact that the landing zone was s ll under intensive enemy fire. He landed and proceeded to supervise the loading of the seriously wounded soldiers aboard his aircra . Major Cran- dall’s bravery and daring courage to land under the most extreme hos le fire ins lled in the pilots the will and spirit to con nue to land in the landing zone under intense enemy fire and in the ground forces the realiza on that friendly wounded would be promptly evacuated. This greatly enhanced morale and will to fight at a cri cal me. A er his first medical evacua on, Major
Crandall con nued to fly into and out of the landing zone throughout the day and into the early evening. He completed fourteen landings on medical evacua on and resupply missions under intense enemy fire and his helicopter o en mes being the target of fire. He re red from the ba lefield only a er all possible service had been rendered to the infantry troops.
The President of the United States takes great pleasure in presen ng the Dis nguished
Flying Cross to Major Bruce P. Crandall extraordinary heroism and gallantry while par ci-
pa ng in aerial flight. Major Crandall dis nguished himself by heroism in ac on on 23 March
1967, while serving as Commanding Officer of Company A, 229th Avia on Ba alion (assault heli-
copter) during an emergency extrac on of a heavily engaged infantry unit near An Khe, Republic
of Vietnam. While performing the extrac on, the first two li helicopters of his flight came un-
der heavy enemy fire. As the hos le fire became more intense, Major Crandall, with complete
disregard for his own safety, maneuvered his aircra between the enemy posi ons and the landing zone, enabling the small friendly force to be boarded. Although his aircra was receiving enemy hits, Major Crandall placed accurate suppressive fire on the hos le force, which allowed the li helicopters to safely depart the area. Major Crandall’s display of personal bravery and concern for the welfare of his fellow soldiers is in keep- ing with the highest tradi ons of the military service and reflect great credit upon himself, his unit, and the United States Army
Major Crandall was awarded the Medal of Honor for ac ons in the Ia Drang Valley Vietnam.
The President of the United States takes great pleasure in presen ng the Dis nguished Flying Cross to First Lieutenant Vernon L. Vanhise for heroism and extraordinary achievement in aerial flight while serving as a Pilot with Marine Fighter/A ack Squadron 542, Marine Aircra Group Eleven, First Marine Aircra Wing in connec on with opera ons against the enemy in the Re- public of Vietnam. Late on the a ernoon of 26 June 1968, First Lieutenant Vanhise launched as Wingman in a flight of two F-4 Phan- tom aircra assigned to provide close air support for a Marine unit that was heavily engaged with a large North Vietnamese Army force occupying for fied posi ons northwest of Dong Ha. Arriving over the designated
area, he was informed by the Tac cal Air Controller (Airborne) that the proximity of friendly and enemy
posi ons would require precise ordnance delivery. Despite the rapidly deteriora ng weather condi-
ons, he unhesita ngly commenced a determined a ack upon the hos le emplacements and immedi-
ately came under a heavy volume of enemy automa c weapons fire. Disregarding his own safety, he
fearlessly maneuvered his Phantom through the intense hos le fire, delivering his ordnance with devas-
ta ng effec veness. Ignoring the automa c weapons fire being directed at his aircra , he skillfully
executed two subsequent strafing runs against the enemy posi ons. His bold ini a ve and excep onal
airmanship inspired all who observed him and were instrumental in his flight accoun ng for fi y-three
North Vietnamese soldiers confirmed killed. First Lieutenant Vanhise’s courage, superior aeronau cal
ability and steadfast devo on to duty in the face of great personal danger contributed immeasurably to
the accomplishment of the hazardous mission and were in keeping with the highest tradi ons of the Marine Corps and of the United States Naval Service.
The President of the United States takes great pleasure in presen ng the Dis nguished Flying Cross to First Lieutenant Vernon L. Vanhise for heroism and extraordinary achievement in aerial flight while serving as a Pilot with Marine Fighter/A ack Squadron 542, Marine Aircra Group Eleven, First Marine Aircra Wing in connec on with opera ons against the enemy in the Republic of Vietnam. On the morning of 1 July 1968, First Lieutenant Vanhise launched as Wingman in a flight of two F-4 Phantom aircra assigned to provide close air support for a friendly unit which was heavily engaged with a large North Vietnamese Army force south of the Khe Sanh Combat Base. As he proceeded through dense over- cast to the designated area, he learned that the friendly force was within fi y meters of the enemy emplacements and that the restricted visibility and mountainous terrain appeared to render close air support infeasible. Arriving over the beleaguered unit’s posi on, he alertly located both forces’ posi ons and unhesita ngly commenced his a ack, immediately coming under a heavy volume of small arms and automa c weapons fire. Disregarding his own safety, he fearlessly maneuvered his Phantom through the intense hos le fire during repeated a acks and delivered his ord- nance with pinpoint accuracy causing the enemy to flee in panic and confusion. Alertly observing the retrea ng hos le soldiers, he skillfully ad- justed his a ack pa ern and placed his ordnance on the enemy with devasta ng effec veness. His resolute determina on and superior aeronau- cal ability inspired all who served with him and were instrumental in his sec on destroying five enemy emplacements and accoun ng for twenty- five North Vietnamese soldiers confirmed killed. First Lieutenant Vanhise’s courage, superb airmanship and steadfast devo on to duty in the face of great personal danger were in keeping with the highest tradi ons of the Marine Corps and the United States Naval Service.