Navy Federal Credit Union

Awards Received

  • Silver Star

    Service:

    United States Army

    Rank:

    Captain (Infantry), [then First Lieutenant]

    Regiment:

    5th Special Forces Group (Airborne)

    Division:

    1st Special Forces

    Action Date:

    June 16, 1966

    Department of the Army, General Orders No. 85 (December 15, 1969)

    The President of the United States of America, authorized by Act of Congress, July 8, 1918 (amended by act of July 25, 1963), takes pleasure in presenting a Bronze Oak Leaf Cluster in lieu of a Second Award of the Silver Star to Captain (Infantry), [then First Lieutenant] Otis H. Ashley, III, United States Army, for gallantry in action on 16 June 1966, near Dak To, Republic of Vietnam, while serving as Executive Officer, Detachment A-245, 5th Special Forces Group (Airborne), 1st Special Forces. On that date, a plane was shot down and rescuers were driven away by fire. Hearing the crew might still be alive, he and a three-man team left by helicopter, taking only ammunition and signal panels. At the site, supported by gunships and United States Air Force fighters, the ship was forced away by fire. Captain Ashley elected to continue despite a heavy rain now falling. At the site again, he and a noncommissioned officer descended a one hundred twenty-foot rope ladder. Drawing fire while suspended, he returned it and continued through the one hundred-foot-high trees. Upon landing, he sent the NCO into the brush for cover but remained exposed to fire while stabilizing the ladder for the other men. With all four men down, he moved to the crash, removed the bodies and destroyed the plane. When the unit was then attacked, he allowed the enemy to walk within five meters of him before firing, killing two and routing the force. The slightest movement drawing fire, he inched to the dead, took their weapons and papers, and crawled the entire perimeter telling his men the situation and laying escape plans. Realizing he could not hold the position or make the upcoming climb without being killed, and already being probed by fire, Captain Ashley walked to the clearing and for twenty minutes displayed signals to planes which put in four airstrikes, forcing the enemy back. Signaling for a pickup, he remained on the ground protecting the helicopter and the climbing men. In this period he came under fire twice. Wounded in the foot in the first exchange, he still pushed the enemy back. Refusing to leave the bodies, weapons, and documents, Captain Ashley crawled to the wreckage, secured all items, dragged them to the clearing and attached them to a lowered cable. Ignoring his wound, which required he use only one foot, he began the exhausting climb. Captain Ashley was forced to return the enemy’s fire twice while en route to the helicopter. Captain Ashley’s stamina and decision under fire allowed his unit an accomplishment of great magnitude with minimum casualties. Captain Ashley’s continued offering of his life to preserve those of other Americans was in keeping with the highest traditions of the United States Army and reflects great credit upon himself and the military service.

  • Silver Star

    Service:

    United States Army

    Rank:

    Captain (Infantry), [then First Lieutenant]

    Regiment:

    5th Special Forces Group (Airborne)

    Division:

    1st Special Forces

    Action Date:

    September 28, 1966

    Department of the Army, General Orders No. 36 (June 6, 1969)

    The President of the United States of America, authorized by Act of Congress, July 8, 1918 (amended by act of July 25, 1963), takes pleasure in presenting the Silver Star to Captain (Infantry), [then First Lieutenant] Otis H. Ashley, III, United States Army, for gallantry in connection with military operations against an opposing armed force while serving with Detachment A-245, 5th Special Forces Group (Airborne), 1st Special Forces. Captain Ashley distinguished himself by gallantry and exceptionally valorous actions in the Republic of Vietnam, on 28 September 1966, near Dak Seang. While driving a jeep to join and to supervise a 74-man security patrol at a Montagnard village approximately two miles from the Dak Seang Special Forces camp, Captain Ashley discovered a North Vietnamese Army (NVA) force in the act of setting up an ambush for the security patrol. Having no means of warning the security force which was traveling in 2 1/2 ton trucks, and with complete disregard for his own safety, Captain Ashley drove his jeep directly at two enemy soldiers on the narrow jungle road. Jumping to avoid being hit by the jeep one NVA soldier fired his .45 caliber machine gun at Captain Ashley, one round striking him above the left eye. As the jeep, out of control, crashed into the dense undergrowth, the enemy threw two hand grenades into the vehicle. Captain Ashley, seriously handicapped by the wound, which blinded one eye temporarily and induced temporary paralysis to his left side, leg and arm, picked up one grenade and dropped it out of the jeep. The two detonations hurled Captain Ashley out of the jeep, and fragments inflicted twenty-nine wounds to his face, neck, stomach, chest, left arm and left leg while simultaneously seriously wounding two of the three CIDG soldiers in the jeep with him and killing the third. Retaining his M-16 rifle, Captain Ashley killed one of the NVA soldiers with a long burst which also drove back several other NVA soldiers rushing toward him out of the underbrush. The second NVA soldier came around the wrecked jeep and fired his rifle at the prone Captain Ashley, wounding him in the left thigh. Instinctively Captain Ashley fired his rifle, which contained only one round, at the retreating soldier. The round struck him in the back and killed him. Another enemy soldier then rushed him and, after struggling to a standing position, Captain Ashley struck his assailant repeatedly with the now-empty rifle until the exertion and his multiple wounds caused him to pass out. When he regained consciousness Captain Ashley was being dragged away by another enemy whom Captain Ashley engaged in hand-to-hand combat, finally driving a knife into the NVA soldier’s neck. Unable to walk, Captain Ashley began crawling down the road toward the location of the security force. Enemy soldiers continued to fire weapons at him, one bullet striking his right forehead, temporarily blinding the other eye and another bullet struck him in the left forearm. Finally the patrol became aware of the engagement and came to Captain Ashley’s rescue. The patrol pursued the enemy force, recovering five enemy dead who were victims of M-16 rifle fire and knife wounds. As a result of his quick thinking, violent actions and aggressive determination, Captain Ashley single-handedly defeated a heavily armed enemy force set to ambush a US-CIDG vehicle-mounted patrol. His gallantry in action saved the lives of many allied and United States soldiers, was in keeping with the highest traditions of the Infantry, and reflects great credit upon himself, his unit, and the United States Army.