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 Major William Noble Simmons (MCSN: 0-79498), United States Marine Corps, for heroism and extraordinary achievement while participating in aerial flight while serving as a Pilot with Marine Medium Helicopter Squadron ONE HUNDRED SIXTY-ONE (HMM-161), Provisional Marine Aircraft Group Thirty-Nine, FIRST Marine Aircraft Wing, in connection with military operations against the enemy in the Republic of Vietnam. On 1 March 1969, Major Simmons launched as Aircraft Commander aboard a CH-46 transport helicopter assigned the emergency extraction of two reconnaissance teams which had been heavily engaged for three days with an estimated platoon-sized North Vietnamese Army force in a densely wooded area in the mountains 500 meters east of the Laotian border in Quang Tri Province. Two previous attempts to extract the twelve Marines had been aborted due to extremely adverse weather conditions. Arriving over the designated area, Major Simmons found that the beleaguered teams were on a ridgeline with a sheer drop of 1,000 feet on one side and the enemy within thirty-five meters of their position on the other. Undaunted by the hazardous mountain terrain, poor visibility and the intensity of hostile fire, Major Simmons coordinated his approach to the landing zone with the air strikes of fixed wing aircraft and the supporting fire of two gunships but was forced to abort his first two landing attempts because smoke and fire in the area prevented him from locating the Marines on the ground. On his third approach he succeeded in locating the beleaguered men in the boulder-strewn area. Skillfully maneuvering his helicopter to a hover on the edge of the cliff with the ramp touching a rock, Major Simmons fearlessly ignored the North Vietnamese fire directed against his aircraft as he boldly maintained his precarious position for the ten minutes required by his crew chief to pull each Marine aboard. Ably utilizing his instruments he lifted out of the dangerous area and maneuvered to Landing Zone Cunningham to disembark the team. Major Simmons courage, superb airmanship and unwavering devotion to duty in the face of great personal risk were instrumental in the accomplishment of the hazardous mission and were in keeping with the highest traditions of the Marine Corps and of the United States Naval Service.
Sponsored by:
Awards Received
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Silver Star
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Distinguished Flying Cross
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Distinguished Flying Cross
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Distinguished Flying Cross
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Silver Star
Service:
United States Marine CorpsRank:
MajorBatallion:
Marine Medium Helicopter Squadron 161 (HMM-161)Division:
1st Marine Aircraft WingAction Date:
November 25, 1968
The President of the United States of America takes pleasure in presenting the Silver Star to Major William Noble Simmons (MCSN: 0-79498), United States Marine Corps, for conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity in action while serving as a Pilot with Marine Medium Helicopter Squadron ONE HUNDRED SIXTY-ONE (HMM-161), Provisional Marine Aircraft Group Thirty-Nine, FIRST Marine Aircraft Wing, in connection with combat operations against the enemy in the Republic of Vietnam. On 25 November 1968, Major Simmons was the Section Leader of a flight of two CH-46 transport helicopters performing re-supply missions to combat committed units, when the section monitored a call for fire support from a Marine company which was under a heavy volume of rocket, small arms, and automatic weapons fire from a North Vietnamese Army unit occupying well-fortified positions on the side of a ridgeline. Reacting rapidly, Major Simmons communicated with Vandegrift Combat Base and learned that no gunships were available and that the rapidly deteriorating weather prevented the utilization of fixed wing aircraft. Since the Marine unit was less than a mile away, Major Simmons led his section to the zone and, finding no other friendly elements in the area to assist the Marines, elected to support the unit on the ground. Although the size and limited armament of the CH-46 helicopter precluded its being used as a gunship, Major Simmons unhesitatingly commenced low-altitude runs over the hostile emplacements, directing the suppressive fire of his .50 caliber machine guns. Aided by an aerial observer who marked the enemy occupied positions, he persisted in his attack until the hostile force began retreating from its fortifications. After expending his ammunition, Major Simmons landed in the fire-swept site and under the protection of a smoke screen, commenced embarking casualties. Although the smoke screen dissipated before he had completed the embarkation and his aircraft came under hostile mortar fire and was damaged, he steadfastly remained in his dangerously exposed position until the wounded men were aboard. Displaying superb airmanship, he then skillfully maneuvered from the hazardous zone and departed for the nearest medical facility. His heroic and timely actions were instrumental in saving the lives of several Marines and contributed significantly to the subsequent defeat of the enemy. By his courage, bold initiative and unwavering devotion to duty in the face of grave personal danger, Major Simmons 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:
CaptainBatallion:
Marine Medium Helicopter Squadron 161 (HMM-161)Action Date:
July 11, 1968
The President of the United States of America takes pleasure in presenting the Distinguished Flying Cross to Captain William Noble Simmons (MCSN: 0-79498), United States Marine Corps, for heroism and extraordinary achievement while participating in aerial flight while serving as a Pilot with Marine Medium Helicopter Squadron ONE HUNDRED SIXTY-ONE (HMM-161), 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 11 July 1968, Captain Simmons launched as Section Leader of a flight of two CH-46 transport helicopters assigned to extract a reconnaissance team from a location north of Dong Ha Mountain in Quang Tri Province. Arriving over the designated area, he was informed that the Marines had observed an enemy force near their position. Rapidly locating the friendly unit, he unhesitatingly commenced his approach to the landing zone and immediately came under a heavy volume of small arms and automatic weapons fire. Realizing that the Marines were surrounded and that the hostile force had been waiting for the extraction attempt, Captain Simmons fearlessly continued his approach and landed his aircraft in the hazardous zone. Ignoring the enemy rounds impacting near him, he resolutely remained in the fire-swept area while the team embarked and then rapidly proceeded to Quang Tri. His resolute determination and superior aeronautical ability inspired all who served with him and were instrumental in the accomplishment of his section’s mission. Captain Simmons’ courage, superb airmanship and steadfast 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.
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Distinguished Flying Cross
Service:
United States Marine CorpsRank:
CaptainBatallion:
Marine Medium Helicopter Squadron 161 (HMM-161)Action Date:
August 3, 1968
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 Captain William Noble Simmons (MCSN: 0-79498), United States Marine Corps, for heroism and extraordinary achievement while participating in aerial flight while serving as a Pilot with Marine Medium Helicopter Squadron ONE HUNDRED SIXTY-ONE (HMM-161), Provisional Marine Aircraft Group Thirty-Nine, FIRST Marine Aircraft Wing, in connection with military operations against the enemy in the Republic of Vietnam. On 3 August 1968, Captain Simmons launched as Section Leader of a flight of two CH-46 transport helicopters and had completed the extraction of a reconnaissance team when he was diverted to accomplish the emergency extraction of another team which was surrounded by an unknown number of North Vietnamese Army soldiers. Arriving over the designated area, his wingman landed and was awaiting the embarkation of the Marines who were considerably slowed down by tall elephant grass, when he came under a heavy volume of hostile small arms and automatic weapons fire and sustained extensive damage to the aircraft. As the intensity of enemy fire increased, he aborted the mission and lifted his damaged aircraft out of the landing zone. After escorting his wingman back to their base and debarking his passengers, Captain Simmons returned to attempt the extraction. Aware of the presence of numerous enemy soldiers in the area, he fearlessly made his approach and landed under the protective fire of gunships. Resolutely disregarding the enemy rounds impacting about him, he steadfastly maintained his position until the team was safely aboard and then skillfully maneuvered his helicopter out of the dangerous area. Captain Simmons’ courage, superb aeronautical ability and unfaltering 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.
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Distinguished Flying Cross
Service:
United States Marine CorpsRank:
MajorBatallion:
Marine Medium Helicopter Squadron 161 (HMM-161)Action Date:
November 20, 1968
The President of the United States of America takes pleasure in presenting a Second Gold Star in lieu of a Third Award of the Distinguished Flying Cross to Major William Noble Simmons (MCSN: 0-79498), United States Marine Corps, for heroism and extraordinary achievement while participating in aerial flight while serving as a Pilot with Marine Medium Helicopter Squadron ONE HUNDRED SIXTY-ONE (HMM-161), Provisional Marine Aircraft Group Thirty-Nine, FIRST Marine Aircraft Wing, in connection with military operations against the enemy in the Republic of Vietnam. On 20 November 1968, during Operation MEADE RIVER, Major Simmons launched as Aircraft Commander aboard a CH-46 transport helicopter assigned to replace an aircraft which had been hit by hostile fire and had crashed while heli-lifting assault elements of a Marine battalion into an enemy controlled area southwest of DaNang. Embarking his assault team at An Hoa, he moved with the third wave to the insertion area. Undaunted by the heavy volume of hostile fire directed against his CH-46 and his inability to utilize his machine guns to deliver suppressive fire because of the proximity of the opposing forces, he skillfully maneuvered his helicopter to a landing in the fire-swept area. Ignoring the enemy rounds impacting near his aircraft, he resolutely remained in his dangerously exposed position until the Marine assault team had disembarked. Departing the hazardous area, he embarked his second increment and completely disregarded his own safety as he again braved intense hostile fire to land in the dangerous zone and discharge his reinforcements. When the flight leader’s aircraft was disabled, Major Simmons assumed the flight leadership for the fifth and sixth waves and skillfully directed the insertion of the Marines into the landing zone. Major Simmons’ courage, superior airmanship and unwavering devotion to duty at great personal risk were instrumental in the accomplishment of the hazardous mission and were in keeping with the highest traditions of the Marine Corps and of the United States Naval Service.