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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