Sponsored by:

Navy Federal Credit Union
Atis
Karlis
Lielmanis
MIA (RVN) KIA
January 2, 1939

–

November 24, 1963

Cemetery:

National Memorial of the Pacific Cemetery (Wall of Missing)

Captain Howard Cody, Pilot of Atis Lielmanis’ B-26, also received a posthumous Air Force Cross for this mission. Captain Richard L. Whitesides, an L-19 Pilot acting as a Forward Air Controller was the only of the THREE men subsequently awarded the Air Force Cross to survive. Sadly, Whitesides was lost during a mission near Khe Sanh on March 26, 1964, before the award could be presented. This was the first action of the Vietnam War to merit award of the Air Force Cross.

Awards Received

  • Air Force Cross

    Service:

    United States Air Force

    Rank:

    First Lieutenant

    Batallion:

    1st Air Commando Squadron

    Regiment:

    34th Tactical Group

    Division:

    Bien Hoa Air Base, Vietnam

    Action Date:

    November 24, 1963

    The President of the United States of America, authorized by Title 10, Section 8742, United States Code, takes pride in presenting the Air Force Cross (Posthumously) to First Lieutenant Atis Karlis Lielmanis (AFSN: 0-3102782), United States Air Force (Reserve), for extraordinary heroism in connection with military operations against an opposing armed force as an Advisor-Navigator of a B-26B aircraft in the 1st Air Commando Squadron, 34th Tactical Group, Bien Hoa Air Base, Vietnam, in action on 24 November 1963 in the Republic of Vietnam. On that date, Lieutenant Lielmanis voluntarily exposed himself during a low level flight over hidden Viet Cong machine gun installations. Their fire badly damaged the aircraft, and it crashed, but this revealed the Viet Cong positions and resulted in their destruction by cover aircraft. Through his extraordinary heroism, superb airmanship, and aggressiveness in the face of hostile forces, First Lieutenant Lielmanis reflected the highest credit upon himself and the United States Air Force.