The President of the United States of America takes pleasure in presenting the Distinguished Flying Cross to First Lieutenant John E. Rhodes (MCSN: 0-103759), United States Marine Corps, for heroism and extraordinary achievement while participating in aerial flight while serving as a Pilot with Marine Light Helicopter Squadron THREE HUNDRED SIXTY-SEVEN (HML-367), Marine Aircraft Group THIRTY-SIX, FIRST Marine Aircraft Wing in connection with combat operations against the enemy in the Republic of Vietnam. Late on the afternoon of 22 August 1969, First Lieutenant Rhodes launched as Section Leader of a flight of two armed UH-1E helicopters assigned the mission of supporting the emergency extraction of a nine-man reconnaissance patrol which was heavily engaged in combat with a North Vietnamese Army force deep in enemy-controlled territory. Arriving over the designated area, he established an orbit until fixed-wing air strikes were completed and then boldly executed repeated rocket and strafing runs against enemy automatic weapons emplacements along a wooded ridgeline. When one of the transport helicopters attempting to extract the team sustained severe damage and was forced to land 1,000 meters from the patrol, First Lieutenant Rhodes expertly delivered covering fire which enabled the downed crew to be extracted. Then, after refueling and re-arming his gunship, First Lieutenant Rhodes, undeterred by the darkness which crated additional hazards, resolutely returned to the beleaguered patrol and provided such effective suppressive fire that the first transport helicopter was able to establish a hover, let four team members attach themselves to its eighty-foot extraction ropes, and lift them out of the area. Realizing that the second transport aircraft would have difficulty in extracting the five remaining patrol members, he jettisoned his rocket pods to lighten his gunship, attempted to extract one of the Marines, but was forced to abort his efforts when the high altitude of the zone and the weight of his aircraft made the task impossible. Undaunted by the constant threat of hostile fire, he marked the pickup site with his spotlights, provided cover until the five remaining patrol members were attacked to the second aircraft’s five extraction ropes, and then escorted the flight out of the precarious zone. While en route to Vandegerift Combat Base, the five men were imperiled when their ropes became entangled. First Lieutenant Rhodes slowed the entire flight, played his spotlights on the men to continually check their condition, and directed crash vehicles to shine their lights on the runway at the combat base. As a result, all the reconnaissance team members landed safely. First Lieutenant Rhodes’ great courage, superior airmanship, and unwavering devotion to duty in the face of great personal danger were in keeping with the highest traditions of the Marine Corps and the United States Naval Service.

The President of the United States of America takes pleasure in presenting a Third Gold Star in lieu of a Fourth Award of the Distinguished Flying Cross to First Lieutenant John E. Rhodes (MCSN: 0-103759), United States Marine Corps, for heroism and extraordinary achievement while participating in aerial flight as a Pilot with Marine Light Helicopter Squadron THREE HUNDRED SIXTY-SEVEN (HML-367), Marine Aircraft Group Sixteen, FIRST Marine Aircraft Wing, in connection with military operations against the enemy in the Republic of Vietnam. On 13 September 1969, First Lieutenant Rhodes launched from the Quang Tri Combat Base as Section Leader of a flight of two UH-1E Huey helicopters assigned the mission of supporting the re-supply of a Marine reconnaissance team operating deep in enemy-controlled territory and the medical evacuation of the team’s casualties. Despite adverse weather conditions, he proceeded to the designated area and, establishing radio contact with the patrol, was informed that the Marines had broken contact with a hostile force. After maneuvering his aircraft on a low-altitude flight in order to draw the fire of the enemy in the area and disclose the hostile firing positions, First Lieutenant Rhodes, when no fire was encountered, directed the lead transport helicopter to commence its approach to the landing zone while he provided cover. When his flight came under an extremely heavy volume of enemy automatic weapons fire, several rounds of which struck his aircraft, he completely disregarded his own safety as he resolutely maneuvered his aircraft on repeated rocket and strafing runs and boldly delivered his ordnance with such devastating effectiveness that the hostile fire was suppressed sufficiently to allow the transport to enter the hazardous area, discharge its load of supplies, embark the casualties, and safely depart the dangerous zone. First Lieutenant Rhodes’ courage, superior airmanship, and unwavering devotion to duty in the face of great personal danger were instrumental in accomplishing the hazardous mission and were in keeping with the highest traditions of the Marine Corps and the United States Naval Service.

The President of the United States of America takes pleasure in presenting a Gold Star in lieu of a Second Award of the Distinguished Flying Cross to First Lieutenant John E. Rhodes (MCSN: 0-103759), United States Marine Corps, for heroism and extraordinary achievement while participating in aerial flight as a Pilot with Marine Light Helicopter Squadron THREE HUNDRED SIXTY-SEVEN (HML-367), Marine Aircraft Group Sixteen, FIRST Marine Aircraft Wing, in connection with military operations against the enemy in the Republic of Vietnam on 31 August 1969. First Lieutenant Rhodes launched as Section leader of a flight of helicopters assigned the mission of supporting the emergency extraction of a United States Army Special Forces reconnaissance team which was heavily engaged in combat with a large North Vietnamese Army force in a mountainous area deep in enemy-controlled territory. Arriving over the designated area, he found that the friendly patrol was located in tall elephant grass on the side of a steep ridge and was receiving intense hostile fire from three sides. Realizing the urgency of extracting the beleaguered team when fire in the dry grass caused by gunship attacks on the enemy positions further endangered the reconnaissance patrol, First Lieutenant Rhodes, undaunted by the heavy volume of hostile fire directed at his aircraft, directed the incoming helicopters into the hazardous area and then maneuvered his gunship in delivering daring and repeated rocket and strafing runs and delivered all of his ordnance on the enemy position with pinpoint accuracy. As a result of his flight’s determined attacks the hostile fire was suppressed sufficiently to allow the transport aircraft to enter the precarious area and safely extract the reconnaissance team. First Lieutenant Rhodes’ courage, superior airmanship and devotion to duty in the face of great personal danger were instrumental to accomplishing the hazardous mission and were in keeping with the highest traditions of the Marine Corps and of the United States Naval Service.