Article

2010-09-04 Southeast Asia

MoH Citation Issued For Actions In Laos 42 Years Ago

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Posted by Anonymoose 2010-09-04 12:20|| || Front Page|| [4 views ] Top

#1 More from the af.mil website:
Despite having received little or no combat training, Chief Etchberger single-handedly held off the enemy with an M-16, while simultaneously directing air strikes into the area and calling for air rescue. Because of his fierce defense and heroic and selfless actions, he was able to deny the enemy access to his position and save the lives of some of his crew.

With the arrival of the rescue aircraft, Chief Etchberger, without hesitation, once again deliberately risked his own life numerous times, exposing himself to heavy enemy fire in order to place his three surviving wounded comrades into rescue slings hanging from the hovering helicopter waiting to airlift them to safety.

With his remaining crew safely aboard, Chief Etchberger finally climbed into an evacuation sling himself, only to be fatally wounded by enemy ground fire as he was being raised into the aircraft.
"He should have a 55-gallon drum full of medals," said retired Tech Sgt. John G. Daniel, 71, of La Junta, Colo. Sergeant Daniel was one of the three rescued. "I wouldn't be alive without him."

Posted by Thring Dark Lord of the Pixies3371 2010-09-04 13:21|| 2010-09-04 13:21|| Front Page Top

#2 A hero. May the recognition bring pleasure to those who knew him, so many years ago.

Posted by trailing wife 2010-09-04 18:10|| 2010-09-04 18:10|| Front Page Top

#3 I'm surprised no one made a movie about this like they did with the did with that Gene Hackman movie. At least I think it was Hackman. Been many a while since I saw it, but it's where is plane is shot down and he uses golf course lingo to tell rescue where he's going so the Vietcong couldn't figure out what he was doing.

Posted by miscellaneous 2010-09-04 20:05|| 2010-09-04 20:05|| Front Page Top

#4 Following the Meme that only deceased get the MOH, not living.

Posted by Redneck Jim 2010-09-04 23:44|| 2010-09-04 23:44|| Front Page Top

#5 Jim, given the requirements for the MOH, it is no wonder that many of the awards are posthumous.

I agree, though, that there are probably several living people who should get the MOH today.

Posted by Rambler in Virginia 2010-09-04 23:59|| 2010-09-04 23:59|| Front Page Top

23:59 Rambler in Virginia
23:58 Shish Turkeyneck8263
23:50 Redneck Jim
23:49 trailing wife
23:44 trailing wife
23:44 Redneck Jim
23:40 Redneck Jim
23:23 Mike Hunt
22:50 DarthVader
22:49 anon1
22:24 Entertaining Prose
21:57 Besoeker
21:52 Procopius2k
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21:44 49 Pan
21:42 DMFD
21:41 Procopius2k
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20:42 miscellaneous
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