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Well...as one may surmise, this Medal of Honor recipient survived the engagement where he earned the Medal. He deserved it as you will come to realize. Wikipedia has an excellent summary of that mission. Much more detail than in this posting.
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During his 30 year military career, Colonel Fleming had also been awarded the Silver Star, Distinguished Flying Cross and eight Air Medals. The missions for these are summarized here.
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He was born in 1943. Wikipedia says his age is 83 which means this hero is still with us.
Citation for the Award of the Medal of Honor to Captain James P. Fleming
For conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity in action at the risk of his life above and beyond the call of duty. Capt. Fleming (then 1st Lt.) distinguished himself as the Aircraft Commander of a UH-1F transport Helicopter. Capt. Fleming went to the aid of a 6-man special forces long range reconnaissance patrol that was in danger of being overrun by a large, heavily armed hostile force. Despite the knowledge that 1 helicopter had been downed by intense hostile fire, Capt. Fleming descended, and balanced his helicopter on a river bank with the tail boom hanging over open water. The patrol could not penetrate to the landing site and he was forced to withdraw. Dangerously low on fuel, Capt. Fleming repeated his original landing maneuver. Disregarding his own safety, he remained in this exposed position. Hostile fire crashed through his windscreen as the patrol boarded his helicopter. Capt. Fleming made a successful takeoff through a barrage of hostile fire and recovered safely at a forward base. Capt. Fleming's profound concern for his fellowmen, and at the risk of his life above and beyond the call of duty are in keeping with the highest traditions of the U.S. Air Force and reflect great credit upon himself and the Armed Forces of his country.
Sources
1) https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/James_P._Fleming
2) https://www.thisdayinaviation.com/26-november-1968/
3) https://valor.militarytimes.com/recipient/recipient-1626/ (3 separate rescue operations under heavy fire)
Rotary wing pilots are a special kind of crazy, right there with there wit crop dusters and the guys who drive borate bombers.
ReplyDeleteMay Sts. Michael and Barbara watch over them. Throw in St. Florian for the firefighters.
Joe,
DeleteI never had any desire to fly in a helicopter. Unless, it was hovering over me with the hoist coming down. Those guys were crazy but had a lot of guts. Another example of "Can't live with 'em, can't live without 'em.
juvat
Juvat, the pictures with them being alive wearing the medal are always the best ones for me.
ReplyDeleteAgreed, THBB, they're not only Brave ones, but Lucky Ones.
Deletejuvat
Geeez.....11-25-68 the Silver Star, 11-26-68 the MOH, 01-16-69 the Distinguished Flying Cross......all three extracting recon patrols.....the man knew how to handle a machine and the bravery.......
ReplyDeleteNylon, They don't tend to give them out easily. So, yes, they knew not only how to handle a machine and be brave, but they also knew the risks and carried out their mission knowing the risks. So, they were heroes and should be honored.
Deletejuvat
Brave and lucky!
ReplyDeleteThe mindset of guys like that:
ReplyDeleteIn 1992 Sonoma County was hit hard by storms, massive flooding on the Russian River. Emergency Services was overwhelmed by volunteers, people wanting to help, but untrained in anything useful. Guy in his mid-40s showed up and went to the overworked clerk who was turning people away because they would ne more hindrance than help. "Look, unless you're a doctor, can drive heavy equipment, or fly a helicopter, go away." To which he said, "I flew dust-offs in Vietnam." Emergency Services got him checked out in the Sheriff’s UH-1 varient.
Coast Guard chopper pilots are right up there with the boat crews of the U.S. Life Saving Service. Crews and those in distress can become dead from weather just as bad as being shot at, but few awards for those sorts of heroics.
DeleteIt is amazing how many people owe their lives to others, or who have saved others... I'm content to remain as neither rescued nor rescuer categories.
JB