Navy Federal Credit Union

Awards Received

  • Distinguished Flying Cross

    Service:

    United States Marine Corps

    Rank:

    First Lieutenant

    Batallion:

    Marine Medium Helicopter Squadron 364 (HMM-364)

    Regiment:

    Marine Aircraft Group 16

    Division:

    1st Marine Aircraft Wing

    Action Date:

    January 4, 1970

    The President of the United States of America takes pleasure in presenting the Distinguished Flying Cross to First Lieutenant Harold B. Lamb, II, United States Marine Corps, for heroism and extraordinary achievement in aerial flight while serving with Marine Medium Helicopter Squadron THREE HUNDRED SIXTY-FOUR (HMM-364), Marine Aircraft Group Sixteen, First Marine Aircraft Wing in connection with combat operations against the enemy in the Republic of Vietnam. On the afternoon of 4 January 1970, First Lieutenant Lamb launched as Section Leader of a flight of two CH-46 transport helicopters assigned the emergency medical evacuation of two casualties from a Marine unit located on a mountain ridge in the Que Son Mountains in Quang Nam Province. As he approached the beleaguered unit, his aircraft came under intense hostile fire which damaged his helicopter, wounded his corpsman, and forced him to abort his landing attempt and return to An Hoa. While en route, he directed the ground unit to move the medical evacuees to a more secure position. After disembarking the wounded corpsman, he obtained a reinforced, metal litter to replace the jungle penetrator, and had the starboard door removed from his helicopter to facilitate the extraction of the casualties. Returning to the embattled Marines, First Lieutenant Lamb, undaunted by the extremely heavy volume of enemy fire directed at his aircraft and the strong winds and downdrafts which caused considerable turbulence over the rugged terrain, skillfully coordinated his approach with the fire of supporting gunships, maneuvered to a hover seventy-five feet above the pick-up site, and lowered the litter to the ground. When the first patient was hoisted to a position outside the door of his CH-46 and it was found that it would be impossible to move the litter through the passenger doorway, First Lieutenant Lamb expertly maneuvered his helicopter to An Hoa with the wounded man in the litter suspended from the side boom hoist outside his aircraft and deftly lowered him to the ground where he was immediately taken care of by medical personnel. The second casualty wad acquired in the same manner and was being flown to An Hoa when the straps holding the Marine in the litter began to come apart while the CH-46 was within one mile of the base. Reacting instantly, First Lieutenant Lamb rapidly autorotated his helicopter to a safe landing at the end of the runway where the casualty was safely removed before the straps separated. The casualties were then flown to the medical facility at DaNang. First Lieutenant Lamb’s courage, superior airmanship, and unwavering devotion to duty at great personal risk were in keeping with the highest traditions of the Marine Corps and of the United States Naval Service.