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 Westley Readol Logan (MCSN: 0-100436), United States Marine Corps, for heroism and extraordinary achievement while participating in aerial flight while serving with Marine Observation Squadron TWO (VMO-2), Marine Aircraft Group Sixteen, FIRST Marine Aircraft Wing in connection with military operations against the enemy in the Republic of Vietnam. On 3 April 1969, First Lieutenant Logan launched as Section Leader of a flight of two armed UH-1E helicopters assigned the mission of supporting the insertion of a nine-man Marine reconnaissance team on a high ridge two miles south of Thuong Duc in Quang Nam Province. After controlling preparatory air strikes, he directed a CH-46 transport helicopter to a landing in the zone to discharge the patrol. As the last Marine was disembarking, the landing zone came under intense enemy automatic weapons fire and grenade attack from hostile positions on three sides, which pinned down the reconnaissance team and wounded two Marines. Reacting instantly, First Lieutenant Logan ignored the extremely heavy volume of hostile fire directed at his aircraft as he boldly executed repeated rocket and strafing runs and delivered such effective suppressive fire that pressure on the patrol was eased and the insertion helicopter was able to lift out of the hazardous area. When two OV-10 Bronco aircraft and another UH-1E gunship responded to his urgent request for any available supporting aircraft in the area, he skillfully directed the precise delivery of their ordnance during rocket and strafing runs, thereby enabling the patrol to move fifty meters to a more advantageous extraction site. Following air strikes by two flights of F-4 Phantom aircraft on the enemy positions, First Lieutenant Logan, undaunted by the intensity of the hostile fire, maneuvered his gunship on low-altitude passes to deliver smoke rockets to screen the extraction aircraft and then fearlessly executed repeated firing runs on the enemy positions. As a result of the devastating attacks, the transport helicopter was able to enter the precarious zone and extract the embattled Marines without being struck by hostile fire. First Lieutenant Logan’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.

The President of the United States of America takes pleasure in presenting the Distinguished Flying Cross to First Lieutenant Westley Readol Logan (MCSN: 0-100436), United States Marine Corps, for heroism and extraordinary achievement while participating in aerial flight while serving with Marine Observation Squadron TWO (VMO-2), Marine Aircraft Group Sixteen, FIRST Marine Aircraft Wing in connection with military operations against the enemy in the Republic of Vietnam. On 6 January 1969, First Lieutenant Logan was the co-pilot aboard the lead aircraft in a flight of two UH-1E helicopters participating in aerial reconnaissance missions from the An Hoa Airfield. As his flight was returning to the Marble Mountain Air Facility upon completion of the assignment, it suddenly came under intense automatic weapons fire from a well-concealed enemy position. In the initial moments of the attack, both helicopters were severely damaged, and the flight leader was wounded so seriously that he became unconscious and lost control of his aircraft. Although painfully injured himself, First Lieutenant Logan quickly brought the faltering aircraft under control and, while his crew delivered effective suppressive fire, skillfully maneuvered out of the enemy’s range. Assessing the condition of his aircraft and concerned for his wounded pilot and crewmen, he elected to return to the An Hoa Airfield and displayed superb airmanship as he maneuvered his crippled helicopter more than 2,000 meters and executed a safe landing. First Lieutenant Logan’s courage, exceptional aeronautical skill and unfaltering devotion to duty in an extremely dangerous situation undoubtedly saved the lives of several Marines and were in keeping with the highest traditions of the Marine Corps and of the United States Naval Service.