The President of the United States of America takes pleasure in presenting the Distinguished Flying Cross to Major Jack Allen Brandon (MCSN: 0-66095), United States Marine Corps, for heroism and extraordinary achievement while participating in aerial flight while serving as a Pilot with Marine Observation Squadron SIX (VMO-6), Provisional Marine Aircraft Group Thirty-Nine, First Marine Aircraft Wing in connection with military operations against the enemy in the Republic of Vietnam. During the early morning hours of 8 July 1969, the Quang Tri Combat Base came under a heavy enemy 122-mm. rocket attack. Realizing the necessity of locating and destroying the hostile rocket positions, Major Brandon unhesitatingly rushed across the fire-swept terrain to the Squadron Ready Room and, rallying a crew, prepared to launch in a UH-1E helicopter gunship. Skillfully guiding the aircraft out of the revetments, he began to taxi toward the runway when two more rockets impacted on the airstrip. Although the helicopter was heavily laden with bombs, Major Brandon elected to lift-off downwind and over the many obstacles in his path to avoid passing through the impact area. As he maneuvered his aircraft forward in its takeoff run, another hostile rocket impacted near him, rocking the helicopter. Displaying superior aeronautical ability, Major Brandon resolutely continued his mission and successfully launched his aircraft. His bold initiative and timely actions inspired all who observed him and contributed significantly to the subsequent silencing of the North Vietnamese Army rocket positions. Major Brandon’s courage, superb airmanship and unswerving devotion to duty in the face of extreme personal danger were in keeping with the highest traditions of the Marine Corps and of the United States Naval Service.
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Awards Received
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Silver Star
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Distinguished Flying Cross
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Silver Star
Service:
United States Marine CorpsRank:
MajorBatallion:
Marine Observation Squadron 6 (VMO-6)Division:
1st Marine Aircraft WingAction Date:
July 31, 1969
The President of the United States of America takes pleasure in presenting the Silver Star to Major Jack Allen Brandon (MCSN: 0-66095), United States Marine Corps, for conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity in action while serving as a Pilot with Marine Observation Squadron 6 (VMO-6), Provisional Marine Aircraft Group Thirty-Nine, FIRST Marine Aircraft Wing, in connection with combat operations against the enemy in the Republic of Vietnam. Early on the morning of 31 July 1969, Major Brandon launched from the Quang Tri Air Base as Section Leader of a flight of two armed UH-1E helicopters assigned the mission of providing armed support for the emergency medical evacuation of casualties from a United States Army unit which was under hostile fire in Quang Tri Province. After establishing contact with the ground unit to determine its location and obtaining information on the sources of enemy fire, he directed the extraction helicopter to extinguish its lights and gave instructions that the illumination flares not be used as he commenced to cover the landing attempt. With complete disregard for his own safety, Major Brandon turned on his aircraft’s running lights and, guided only by the red glow of a flash light at the wounded men’s position, boldly led the transport helicopter toward the landing zone. Forced to abort the landing attempt because of the increased intensity of hostile fire and aggressive probes by the enemy, he skillfully maneuvered his gunship on repeated firing runs until the hostile ground attack was repulsed. Having expended his ordnance, he proceeded to Quang Tri where he quickly re-armed and re-fueled his aircraft and then resolutely returned to the hazardous area. Fearlessly executing rocket and strafing runs against the enemy positions, he delivered his ordnance with such effectiveness that the extraction helicopter was able to land and embark the casualties. As the transport aircraft lifted out of the zone, it was struck by an enemy rocket-propelled grenade and was forced to crash land in a gully near the pick-up point. When hostile mortar rounds began exploding all around the downed helicopter, Major Brandon ignored the heavy volume of enemy fire as he skillfully maneuvered his gunship on repeated firing runs to cover the removal of the crew and medical evacuees from the wreckage. Oblivious to the danger from hostile fire, he executed low-altitude passes to guide a rescue team to the crash site and then provided covering fire as the group moved back to the defensive perimeter. Joined by another gunship at daybreak, Major Brandon continued to lead his flight in delivering such effective suppressive fire that three transport helicopters were able to land with essential supplies and then evacuate the casualties without further incidence. By his courage, superior airmanship and unwavering devotion to duty in the face of great personal danger, Major Brandon was instrumental in the accomplishment of the hazardous mission and upheld the highest traditions of the Marine Corps and of the United States Naval Service.
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Distinguished Flying Cross
Service:
United States Marine CorpsRank:
MajorBatallion:
Marine Observation Squadron 6 (VMO-6)Division:
1st Marine Aircraft WingAction Date:
August 15, 1969
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 Major Jack Allen Brandon (MCSN: 0-66095), United States Marine Corps, for heroism and extraordinary achievement while participating in aerial flight while serving as a Pilot with Marine Observation Squadron SIX (VMO-6), Provisional Marine Aircraft Group Thirty-Nine, First Marine Aircraft Wing in connection with military operations against the enemy in the Republic of Vietnam. On the morning of 15 August 1969, Major Brandon launched as Section Leader of a flight of two armed UH-1E helicopters assigned the mission of supporting the insertion of a Marine reconnaissance team in Quang Tri Province. Shortly after completing the insertion, he was informed that the patrol had become heavily engaged in combat with a hostile force and required immediate extraction. Rapidly returning to the embattled Marines, Major Brandon completely disregarded his own safety as he skillfully maneuvered his aircraft on repeated rocket and strafing runs and delivered his ordnance with such effectiveness that the reconnaissance team was able to move out of the landing zone in preparation for fixed wing air strikes upon the enemy. Proceeding to the Vandegrift Combat Base, he quickly assessed the damage to his gunship caused by hostile fire, re-fueled and re-armed his aircraft, and resolutely returned to the beleaguered patrol just as the attack aircraft were completing their air strikes. Sighting a bunker fifty feet from the zone as the source of the heaviest volume of enemy fire, Major Brandon, undaunted by the intensity of the hostile fire directed at his helicopter, fearlessly maneuvered his gunship on a dangerously low, circling flight pattern directly in front of the bunker and directed his crew chief to deliver machine gun fire into the fortification. As a result, the enemy fire was silenced. Directing and escorting the extraction helicopters into the zone, he provided covering fire which enabled the reconnaissance team to be extracted. Major Brandon’s 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 of the United States Naval Service.