part0036

A s I lay on my stomach in bed, half-asleep, the only sound was my fan quietly moving the air around my mosquito net. There were no other sounds, not even our rooster crowing, but the sun was already up. Damn, I must have slept through the night. Surprised I didn’t hear other crews waking up. Must have been more tired than I thought. Groping on the floor for my watch, I managed to find it. Crap, it’s 0930. I’d slept twelve hours and still felt like I’d been dragged through a knothole backwards. Crawling out from under the mosquito net, I heard snoring coming from elsewhere in the hooch. In my flippy-flops and boxer shorts, I headed for the company piss tubes. Hooch maids won’t be here yet, so can’t embarrass them. Going outside, I noticed that there wasn’t a lot of activity in the company area. As I was relieving myself, the company clerk walked by.

Back in the hooch, a couple of other pilots were just getting up and I spread the word for the company formation and afternoon cookout. No one complained about a stand-down day. Knowing the maintenance folks, however, they were already on the flight line and would be working for the morning to make sure birds were ready the next day as we would be picking up the load for Bravo Company, but they would knock off in time for the CO’s 1200 formation.

Returning the first sergeant’s salute, he didn’t tell us to stand at ease as was normally done but instead stated, “Attention to Orders. General Orders Number 203, Valorous Unit Award. The following award is announced. By the direction of the Secretary of the Army, under the provisions of Paragraph 202.1g(2), AR 672-5-1, the Valorous Unit Award is awarded to the following named unit of the United States Army for extraordinary heroism while engaged in military operations during the period indicated. The 227th Aviation Assault Helicopter Battalion distinguished itself by extraordinary heroism while engaged in military operations on March sixth, 1969, in Bien Hoa Province, Republic of Vietnam…” And he continued to read the entire citation.

When he was done reading, the first sergeant announced, “The following personnel, front and center.” He called forward a couple of soldiers. The CO stepped up in front of the first soldier with the company clerk right next to him. The first sergeant continued, “Attention to Orders, Award of the Distinguished Flying Cross is awarded to Specialist Fourth Class Joseph W. Leonard for heroism while participating in aerial flight evidenced by voluntary action above and beyond the call of duty in the Republic of Vietnam on March sixth, 1969, while serving as a door gunner of a UH-1H helicopter with Company A, 227th Aviation Battalion (Assault Helicopter) during combat operations in Bien Hoa, Republic of Vietnam. After inserting a small combat party, the landing zone came under intense enemy fire. Realizing the need for reinforcements, Specialist Four Leonard’s aircraft returned to the base camp and picked up the needed infantrymen. Returning to the contact, his aircraft came under heavy enemy fire while landing. Specialist Four Leonard provided accurate suppressive fire although wounded in the initial barrage of enemy fire. His actions helped immeasurably in the successful completion of the mission. His outstanding ability and devotion to duty are in keeping with the highest traditions of the military service, and reflects great credit upon himself, his unit and the United States Army. Signed Robert M. Shoemaker, Chief of Staff.” The CO stepped up and, taking the Distinguished Flying Cross Medal from the company clerk, he pinned it on Leonard’s chest. He then moved down the line and, with each reading by the first sergeant, pinned a medal on each soldier.

When done, the CO said, “At ease. You have every right to be proud of this accomplishment, even if you were not on the lift that day. The extraordinary action of these soldiers was accomplished by the support of every man in this company. Maintenance, they could not have been there without your efforts before the mission was even started. Company support, they could not have done the mission if you were not here to get them fed, get them up, and see that they had the right equipment. And flight crews, you demonstrated what it takes to take care of the grunts. My compliments, gentlemen. My only regret is that I was not your commander at that time. Battalion recognizes the effort you all put forth every day and has given us a stand-down today. We will be back in the air tomorrow, but for today, let’s have a cookout. Company, attention!”