Navy Federal Credit Union

The President of the United States of America, authorized by Act of Congress, July 2, 1926, takes pleasure in presenting the Distinguished Flying Cross to First Lieutenant (Field Artillery) Charles O. Reed, III (ASN: 0-5419492), United States Army, for heroism while participating in aerial flight: First Lieutenant Reed distinguished himself by exceptionally valorous actions on 22 June 1967, while serving as a member of Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 173d Airborne Brigade (Separate). Lieutenant Reed was commanding a UH-1D helicopter assigned the mission of evacuating a critically wounded soldier in the 1st Battalion (Airborne), 503d Infantry. The weather was very poor, with low clouds, rain and fog. The area in which the casualty was located had been under heavy mortar and ground attack. Lieutenant Reed flew his ship at low level to reach the unit’s area. On his approach, he was taken under heavy small arms fire and automatic weapons fire from all sides. He fearlessly continued his approach and landed in the area, still under mortar attack, where he proceeded to load the wounded. Upon his departure, he was again taken under fire from all sides, but continued to fly at low level until he returned the wounded to the brigade base camp at Dak To. Aware of the conditions to be encountered, he again volunteered to return and extract the remaining wounded. Again he was subjected to extremely heavy fire on the approach to, within, and on departure from, the landing zone. Lieutenant Reed’s sound judgment, personal courage and gallantry were responsible for the successful evacuation of critically wounded American soldiers from a besieged unit. Lieutenant Reed’s actions were in the highest traditions of the military service and reflect great credit upon himself, his unit and the United States Army.

Awards Received