Sponsored by:

Navy Federal Credit Union
Richard
Cullen
Brims
DNB (1986)
December 27, 1945

–

May 21, 1986

Cemetery:

U.S. Air Force Academy Cemetery

Richard Brims Graduated from the U.S. Air Force Academy at Colorado Springs, Colorado, Class of 1971. He was Pilot of “Knife 51” during the Mayaguez recovery operations, and was one of FOUR men awarded the Air Force Cross during this, the last combat action in Southeast Asia. As a U.S. Air Force Major he was subsequently killed on May 21, 1986, when his HH-53 PAVE LOW helicopter crashed during a low-level night training mission in Nevada.

Awards Received

  • Air Force Cross

    Service:

    United States Air Force

    Rank:

    First Lieutenant

    Batallion:

    21st Special Operations Squadron

    Division:

    Nakhon Phanom Royal Thai Air Base, Thailand

    Action Date:

    May 15, 1975
    Department of the Air Force, Special Orders GB-583 (July 14, 1975)

    The President of the United States of America, authorized by Title 10, Section 8742, United States Code, takes pleasure in presenting the Air Force Cross to First Lieutenant Richard Cullen Brims, United States Air Force, for extraordinary heroism in military operations against an opposing armed force as an HH-53 Helicopter Aircraft Commander of the 21st Special Operations Squadron, Nakhon Phanom Royal Thai Air Base, Thailand, in action on 15 May 1975, at Koh Tang Island, Cambodia. On that date, while engaged in the recovery of the S.S. MAYAGUEZ and crew, Lieutenant Brims successfully landed United States Marines on Koh Tang Island despite overwhelming ground fire. Prior to leaving the island, Lieutenant Brims held his position against heavy ground fire and managed to extract five seriously wounded Marines. He then twice flew his aircraft into intense ground fire, successfully removing remaining groups of United States Marines. Through his extraordinary heroism, superb airmanship, and aggressiveness in the face of hostile forces, Lieutenant Brims reflected the highest credit upon himself and the United States Air Force.