Legacy of Valor Published March 24, 2009 1st SOW Public Affairs HURLBURT FIELD, Fla. -- The Medal of Honor is the highest award for heroism in military action this nation can bestow upon a member of its armed forces. George Washington started it all in 1782. Sacrifices at Bunker Hill, Lexington and Valley Forge had won independence for the United States and brought honor to Washington. But he realized that he alone could not take credit for the defeat of the British. Former President Washington felt that some kind of recognition should be given to the anonymous men of the continental Army -- those solider whose efforts extended beyond the normal call of duty. Thus, the Badge of Merit, the country's first military decoration, was born. From this first decoration, awarded to only three men, grew both the philosophy and method by which the United States expressed its appreciation to the members of its military. Following that guideline, the Medal of Honor was authorized by Congress Dec. 21, 1861, to be awarded only by direction of the president for heroic action. Originally a navy medal, the army soon followed with their own version of the medal. At first, the medal was only awarded to enlisted, but the law was amended in 1863 to include officers. The first Medal of Honor awarded too an airman was bestowed posthumously upon Lt. Frank Luke Jr., but it was Lt. Edward V. Rickenbacker who was the first airman to earn the medal Sept. 25, 1918, four days before Lieutenant Luke's heroic act. In 1965, the Air Force announced its Medal of Honor. During the Vietnam War, Col. Bernard Fisher was the first Air Force member to be awarded the Air Force version of the Medal of Honor. The A-1E Shyraider attack aircraft in which Colonel Fisher, then a major, won the medal later crashed and burned and was written off. Volunteer maintenance specialists restored the aircraft and it was returned to the United States. It is the only aircraft in the Air Force museum at Wright-Paterson Air Force Base, Ohio, in which an actual Medal of Honor was earned. Col. Joe Jackson also won the Medal of Honor during the Vietnam War. Flying a C-123, he was undergoing a standardization and evaluation check ride at the time. The only existing photograph of a Medal of Honor recipient actually earning the award is of Jackson, then a lieutenant colonel, and his crew making a rescue of an Air Force Combat Control Team on an enemy held airstrip. Mr. John Levitow, as a sergeant, was the youngest and lowest ranking airman to ever be awarded the Medal of Honor, and the only Air Force enlisted person to do so during the Vietnam War. Although he did not make the Air Force a career, he has been extremely active in non-commissioned officer leadership development programs. Four airmen received the Medal of Honor in World War I, 38 in World War II, four during the Korean War and 12 in Southeast Asia. Of the 12 who received the medal in Southeast Asia, five were Air Commandos. A Department of the Air Force publication entitled "Medal of Honor" states that "all these men, without regard for their own safety , and one of the most formidable decisions they could be called upon to make-- to jeopardize their own lives. Because of their daring exploits- -above and beyond the call of duty - each has earned a high place among the nation's most courageous warriors." The Medal of Honor is a gold star with the head of the Statue of Liberty centered upon it and surrounded with green enamel laurel leaves suspended by rings from a trophy consisting of a bar inscribed with the word "VALOR" above an adaptation of the thunderbolt from the Air Force Coat of Arms. The bar is suspended by a light blue silk neckband behind a square pad in the center with corners turned in and charged with 13 white stars in the form of a triple chevron. Medal of Honor recipients hold the equivalent rank of a general officer, according to the Air Force protocol. When wearing the medal, recipients are accorded appropriate customs and courtesies and a salute must be rendered in their presence. "Disregarding his own injuries..." William A. Jones, 602nd Special Operations Squadron, Dong Hoi, North Vietnam, 1968 Col. William A. Jones, 602nd Special Operations Squadron, U.S. Air Force, distinguished himself as the pilot of an A-1H Skyraider aircraft near Dong Hoi, North Vietnam. On Sept. 1, 1968, as the on-scene commander in the attempted rescue of a down U.S. pilot, Colonel Jones' aircraft was repeatedly hit by heavy and accurate anti-aircraft fire. On one of his passes, Colonel Jones felt an explosion beneath his aircraft and his cockpit rapidly filled with smoke. With complete disregard of the possibility that his aircraft might still be burning, he continued his search for the downed pilot. He sighted a multiple-barrel gun position firing at him from near the survivor's position. He could not attack the gun pos9ition on the pass for fear he would endanger the downed pilot. On two subsequent passes, Colonel Jones attacked the position with cannon and rocket fire. On his second pass, the aircraft was hit with automatic weapon fire. One round hit the Yankee Extraction System rocket mounted behind the headrest, igniting the rocket. His aircraft burst into flames in the center fuselage section, with flames engulfing the cockpit area. He pulled the extraction handle, jettisoning the canopy. The influx of fresh air made the fire burn with intensity for a few moments, but since the rocket motor has already burned, the extraction system did not pull Colonel Jones from the aircraft. Despite searing pains from severe burns sustained on his arms, hands, neck, shoulders, and face, Colonel Jones pulled into a climb and attempted to transmit the location of the downed pilot and the enemy gun position to the other aircraft in the area. His calls were blocked by other transmissions repeatedly directing him to bail out and within seconds his transmitter were disabled and he could receive only on one channel. Disregarding his injuries, he flew his crippled aircraft back to his base and passed on essential information for the rescue rather than bail out. Colonel Jones successfully landed his heavily damaged aircraft and passed the information to a debriefing officer while on the operating table. As a result of his heroic actions and disregard for his own safety, the downed pilot was rescued later that day. Colonel Jones' profound concern for his fellow man 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. Colonel Jones was killed in an aircraft accident before he could be officially cited for his heroism. President Richard M. Nixon presented the Medal of Honor to his widow, Lois Jones, Aug. 6, 1970. "In the face of withering ground fire..." Bernard F. Fisher, 1st Air Commando Squadron, A Shau Valley, South Vietnam, 1966 On March 10, 1966, Maj. Bernard A. Fisher, piloting an A-1E Skyraider, was providing close air support to an Army special forces camp at A Shau Valley near the Loasion border. The camp was under attack by 2,000 North Vietnamese Army regulars. The North Vietnamese had surrounded the camp and were continuously raking it with automatic weapons fire from the surrounding hills. The tops of the 1,500-foot hills were obscured by an 800 foot ceiling, limiting aircraft maneuverability and forcing pilots to operate within range of hostile gun positions, which often were able to fire down on the attacking aircraft. During the battle, Major Fisher observed a fellow airman crash land on the battle-torn airstrip. In the belief that the downed pilot was seriously injured and in imminent danger of capture, Major Fisher announced his intention to land on the airstrip to effect a rescue. Although aware of the extreme danger and likely failure of such an attempt, he elected to continue. Directing his own air cover, he landed his aircraft and taxied almost the full length of the runway, which was littered with battle debris and parts of an exploded aircraft. As the downed pilot raced toward his aircraft, Major Fisher throttled back the engines to reduce the propeller backwash. The injured pilot fell head first into the Skyraider's cockpit as Major Fisher jammed the throttle to the stops. While effecting successful rescue of the downed pilot, heavy ground fire was observed, with 19 bullets striking his aircraft. In the face of the withering ground fire, he held the plane down until the last possible moment and gained enough speed to lift-off at the overrun of the airstrip. Major Fisher's profound concern for his fellow airman, and at the risk of his life above and beyond the call of duty are in the highest traditions of the U.S. Air Force and reflect great credit upon himself and the Armed Forces of his country. Major Fisher, who retired from the Air Force as a colonel, was presented the Medal of Honor by President Lyndon B. Johnson Mar. 19, 1967. "Through the hell of bullets..." James P. Fleming, 20th Special Operations Squadron, Duc Co, South Vietnam, 1968 On Nov. 26, 1968 Capt. James P. Fleming, 20th Special Operations Squadron, U.S. Air Force, distinguished himself as the aircraft commander of a UH-1F transport helicopter. Captain Fleming was returning from a mission when a call came for help from a six-man special forces long range reconnaissance patrol that was in danger of being overrun by a large, heavily armed hostile force. He found the team near Duc Co in the republic of Vietnam central highlands. They were pinned down by hostile fire with their backs against an impassable river. Despite the fact that one helicopter had already been downed by intense hostile fire, Captain Fleming descended and balanced his helicopter on a river bank with the tail boom hanging over open water. The patrol, under intense enemy fire, could not penetrate to the landing site and Captain Fleming was forced to withdraw. He backed out over the water through a barrage of enemy machine gun fire. The patrol had been under attack for nearly an hour and enemy fire was still intense. Captain Fleming decided to make one final rescue attempt. Dangerously low on fuel, he repeated his original landing maneuver. Disregarding his own safety, he remained in this exposed position. This time, the Green Berets set Claymore anti-personnel mines to cover their dash to freedom. As they raced for the helicopter with the enemy hot on their heels, the Claymores started exploding. Hostile fire crashed through his widescreen between the pilot and copilot and the patrol boarded his helicopter. Finally, with all aboard, Captain Fleming backed out over the water a second time and made a successful take off through a hail of bullets. The helicopter departed for Duc Co with nearly dry fuel tanks. Captain Fleming's profound concern for his fellow men, and at the risk of his life above and beyond the call of duty are in keeping the highest traditions of the U.S. Air Force and reflect great credit upon himself and the Armed Forces of his country. Fleming, who retired from the Air Force as a colonel, was awarded the Medal of Honor by President Richard M. Nixon at a White House ceremony May 14, 1970. "Threw himself upon the burning flare... " John L. Levitow, 3rd Special Operations Squadron, Long Binh, South Vietnam, 1969 On Feb. 24, 1969, Airmen 1st Class John L. Levitow, 3rd Special Operations Squadron, U.S. Air Force, distinguished himself by exceptional heroism while assigned as a loadmaster aboard an AC-47 gunship flying a night mission in support of Long Binh Army post. Airman Levitow's aircraft was struck by a hostile mortar round. The resulting explosion ripped a hole two feet in diameter through the wing and fragments made over 3,500 holes in the fuselage. All occupants of the cargo compartment were wounded and slammed against the fuselage. The explosion tore an activated flare from the grasp of a crewmember who had been launching flares to provide illumination for Army ground troops engaged in combat. Airman Levitow, though stunned by the concussion of the blast and suffering from over 40 fragment wounds in the back and legs, staggered to his feet and turned to assist the man nearest to him who had been knocked down and was bleeding heavily. As he was moving his wounded comrade forward and away from the open cargo compartment door, he saw the smoking flare ahead of him in the aisle. Realizing the danger involved and completely disregarding his own wounds, Airman Levitow started toward the burning flare. The aircraft was partially out of control and the flare was rolling wildly from side to side. Airman Levitow struggled forward despite the loss of blood from his many wounds and the partial loss of feeling in his right leg. Unable to grasp the rolling flare with his hands, he threw himself bodily upon the burning flare. Hugging the deadly device to his body, he dragged himself back to the rear of the aircraft and hurled the flare through the opened cargo door. At that instant the flare separated and ignited in the air, but clear of the aircraft. Airman Levitow, by his selfless and heroic action, saved the aircraft and its entire crew from certain death and destruction. Airman Levitow's gallantry, his profound concern for his fellow men, at the risk of his life above and beyond the call of duty are in keeping the highest traditions of the U.S. Air Force and reflect great credit upon himself and the Armed Forces of his country. Airman Levitow, who separated as a sergeant from the Air Force in April, 1970, was awarded the Medal of Honor by President Richard M. Nixon May 14, 1970. "Profound concern for his fellow man..." Joe M. Jackson, 311th air commando Squadron, Kham Duc, South Vietnam, 1968 On May 12, 1968, Lt. Col. Joe M. Jackson, 311th Air Commando Squadron, U.S. Air Force, distinguished himself as pilot of a C-123 Provider. Colonel Jackson volunteered to attempt to the rescue of a three-man USAF Combat Control Team from the Special Forces camp at Kham Duc. Hostile forces had overrun the forward outpost and established gun positions on the air-strip. They were ranking the camp with small arms, mortars, light and heavy automatic weapons, and recoilless rifle fire. The camp was engulfed in flames, and ammunition dumps were continuously exploding and littering the runway with debris. In addition, eight aircraft had been destroyed by the intense enemy fire and one aircraft remained on the runway reducing its usable length to only 2,200 feet. To further complicate the landing, the weather was deteriorating rapidly, thereby permitting only one air strike prior to his landing. Although fully aware of the extreme danger and likely failure of an attempt, Colonel Jackson elected to land his aircraft and attempt to rescue. Displaying superb airmanship and extraordinary heroism, he landed his aircraft near the point where the combat control team was reported to be hiding. While on the ground, his aircraft was the target of intense hostile fire. A rocket landed in front of the nose of the aircraft but failed to explode. Once the combat control team was aboard, Colonel Jackson succeeded in getting airborne despite the hostile fire directed across the runway in front of his aircraft. Colonel Jackson's profound concern for his fellow man, 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. Colonel Jackson, who retired from the Air Force as a colonel, was presented the Medal of Honor by President Lyndon B. Johnson at the While House Jan. 16. 1969. (Editor's note: This history was initially published in the 1997. It was put together by the Public Affairs office from material provided by the Air Force Special Operations Command History Office.)