Medal of Honor: Gerald O. Young – Vietnam War, November 8–9, 1967

Gerald Orren Young
Captain, U.S. Air Force
Conflict: Vietnam War
Unit: 37th Aerospace Rescue and Recovery Squadron
Date of Action: November 8–9, 1967
Location: Laos

Summary of Action:
In the pitch-black jungles of Laos, surrounded by hundreds of North Vietnamese troops, a U.S. Army Special Forces reconnaissance team was pinned down—wounded, outgunned, and out of time.

Two helicopters had already been shot down trying to reach them. The jungle was alight with muzzle flashes and enemy fire. Captain Gerald O. Young, flying HH-3E Jolly Green 26, volunteered to go in anyway.

Fighting through a storm of gunfire illuminated only by flare light from a circling C-130, Young brought his helicopter into a deadly LZ. As pararescueman Larry Maysey braved enemy fire to pull the last two wounded survivors aboard, an RPG struck the aircraft. Jolly 26 flipped, exploded, and tore down a jungle slope in flames.

Young somehow survived.

Severely burned and disoriented, he pulled a wounded survivor from the wreckage and evaded enemy search teams for 17 harrowing hours. With no food, water, or weapon, he led enemy forces away from the injured man—ensuring that one life could still be saved.

He was rescued later that day. His survival was a miracle. His actions, extraordinary.

Gerald Young became the first Air Force helicopter pilot to receive the Medal of Honor—and one of the few to have walked away from such a crash and kept fighting.

Medal of Honor Citation:
*"For conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity in action at the risk of his life above and beyond the call of duty.

Capt. Young distinguished himself while serving as a helicopter rescue crew commander. On 9 November 1967, he participated in a mission to rescue survivors of a reconnaissance team in enemy-held territory. The team was under attack by a large enemy force and two helicopters had been destroyed during previous rescue attempts.

Capt. Young, despite the knowledge of these facts and facing intense hostile fire, elected to continue the mission. While hovering to permit rescue of remaining survivors, his helicopter was hit by enemy fire and crashed. Capt. Young survived, but with extensive burns and injuries.

Though unarmed and in severe pain, he evaded capture, directed search and rescue aircraft to the injured survivor, and ensured his comrade’s survival at great personal risk.

By his gallantry and devotion to duty, Capt. Young reflected great credit upon himself and the U.S. Air Force."*