Medal of Honor: Louis R. Rocco - Vietnam War - May 24, 1970

Name: Louis R. Rocco
Rank: Warrant Officer (then Sergeant First Class)
Branch: U.S. Army
War: Vietnam War
Unit: Advisory Team 162, U.S. Military Assistance Command
Date of Action: May 24, 1970
Location: Northeast of Katum, Republic of Vietnam

Summary of Action

On 24 May 1970, Warrant Officer Louis R. Rocco displayed extraordinary heroism during a medical evacuation mission northeast of Katum, Vietnam.

Rocco volunteered to accompany a rescue helicopter assigned to evacuate eight critically wounded Army of the Republic of Vietnam soldiers trapped near enemy forces.

As the helicopter approached the landing zone, intense enemy automatic weapons fire erupted from concealed positions.

Ignoring the danger to himself, Rocco identified enemy firing points and delivered accurate suppressive fire from the aircraft as it descended.

The helicopter sustained catastrophic damage and was forced to crash-land inside the hostile area.

The violent crash fractured Rocco’s wrist and hip and severely bruised his back.

Moments later, flames engulfed the wreckage.

Despite his injuries, Rocco immediately began pulling survivors from the burning helicopter, suffering severe burns to his own body in the process.

Enemy fire continued to rake the crash site as he carried unconscious men across approximately twenty meters of open ground to the nearby Army of the Republic of Vietnam defensive perimeter.

Each trip through the exposed terrain caused excruciating pain as his burned hands and broken wrist struggled under the weight of the wounded men.

Still, Rocco refused to stop.

One by one, he carried the crash survivors to safety while under direct enemy fire.

Only after every wounded man had been removed from the wreckage did he finally allow himself to collapse.

Even then, once inside the defensive perimeter, he continued helping administer first aid to the wounded until his injuries and burns caused him to lose consciousness.

His fearless actions under fire directly saved the lives of three fellow soldiers who otherwise would have perished in the burning wreckage or been killed by enemy fire.

Rocco’s extraordinary courage and complete disregard for his own suffering embodied the highest traditions of military service.

Medal of Honor Citation

ROCCO, LOUIS R.

WO Rocco distinguished himself when he volunteered to accompany a medical evacuation team on an urgent mission to evacuate 8 critically wounded Army of the Republic of Vietnam personnel. As the helicopter approached the landing zone, it became the target for intense enemy automatic weapons fire. Disregarding his own safety, WO Rocco identified and placed accurate suppressive fire on the enemy positions as the aircraft descended toward the landing zone. Sustaining major damage from the enemy fire, the aircraft was forced to crash land, causing WO Rocco to sustain a fractured wrist and hip and a severely bruised back. Ignoring his injuries, he extracted the survivors from the burning wreckage, sustaining burns to his own body. Despite intense enemy fire, WO Rocco carried each unconscious man across approximately 20 meters of exposed terrain to the Army of the Republic of Vietnam perimeter. On each trip, his severely burned hands and broken wrist caused excruciating pain, but the lives of the unconscious crash survivors were more important than his personal discomfort, and he continued his rescue efforts. Once inside the friendly position, WO Rocco helped administer first aid to his wounded comrades until his wounds and burns caused him to collapse and lose consciousness. His bravery under fire and intense devotion to duty were directly responsible for saving 3 of his fellow soldiers from certain death. His unparalleled bravery in the face of enemy fire, his complete disregard for his own pain and injuries, and his performance were far above and beyond the call of duty and were in keeping with the highest traditions of self-sacrifice and courage of the military service.