Navy Federal Credit Union

Awards Received

  • Silver Star

    Service:

    United States Army

    Rank:

    Specialist Fifth Class

    Regiment:

    1st Aviation Brigade

    Action Date:

    August 31, 1970

    Headquarters, 1st Aviation Brigade, General Orders No. 11891 (December 2, 1970)

    The President of the United States of America, authorized by Act of Congress July 9, 1918 (amended by an act of July 25, 1963), takes pleasure in presenting the Silver Star to Specialist Fifth Class John Thomas Lockhart (ASN: RA-11841117), United States Army, for gallantry in action while engaged in military operations involving conflict with an armed hostile force while serving with the 48th Aviation Company (Assault Helicopter), 1st Aviation Brigade, in the Republic of Vietnam on 31 August 1970. Specialist Fifth Class Lockhart distinguished himself by exceptionally valorous actions while serving as a crew chief aboard a lift helicopter during an Allied troop insertion into a landing zone where Allied forces had already observed an estimated enemy battalion. After two incident-free trips, his aircraft approached to land for a third insertion when he spotted twenty enemy soldiers in close contact with Allies in the prospective landing zone. Receiving intense enemy automatic weapons fire from all sides of the landing zone, his helicopter approached from another angle and once again came under heavy fire from two enemy companies below. Although his aircraft sustained numerous hits which caused the engine and hydraulics o fail, Specialist Fifth Class Lockhart immediately destroyed six of the enemy force rushing his disabled aircraft. After landing, he acted with complete disregard for his own personal safety while boldly attempting to extinguish a fire in the aircraft. Finding the fire uncontrollable, he dismounted his machine gun and set up a defensive position from which he engaged the enemy several times, alternately crawling and firing his machine gun until he and his crew were able to reach the rescue point. Through his undaunted courage and great concern for his fellow crewmembers, he was highly instrumental in saving them from annihilation at the hands of a numerically superior enemy force. His valiant and thoroughly professional actions were in keeping with the highest traditions of the military service and reflect great credit upon himself, his unit, and the United States Army.