The President of the United States of America, authorized by Act of Congress, July 2, 1926, takes pleasure in presenting the Distinguished Flying Cross to Warrant Officer Harvey H. Rients, United States Army, for heroism while participating in aerial flight evidenced by voluntary action above and beyond the call of duty in the Republic of Vietnam on 8 July 1970. Warrant Officer Rients distinguished himself while serving as aircraft commander of a UH-1H lift helicopter during troop insertion operations in Quang Tri Province, Republic of Vietnam. While approaching the landing zone, Warrant Officer Rients’ helicopter came under intense hostile fire. Despite the fire, Warrant Officer Rients landed his helicopter and successfully inserted the ground troops. Upon his ascent, he directed the fire of his door gunners and his supporting helicopter against enemy positions. Moments later he returned to the area to relocate the ground troops to a more strategic position. He inserted the ground troops and while ascending, observed that they were signaling for him to return. Despite a fierce barrage of enemy fire, he landed, picked up a captured enemy soldier and flew to Quang Tri. Warrant Officer Rients’ personal bravery and devotion to duty were in keeping with the highest traditions of the military service and reflect great credit upon himself, his unit, and the United States Army.
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Awards Received
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Distinguished Flying Cross
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Distinguished Flying Cross
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Distinguished Flying Cross
Citation Courtesy of the Distinguished Flying Cross Society – www.dfcsociety.orgThe President of the United States of America, authorized by Act of Congress, July 2, 1926, takes pleasure in presenting a Second Bronze Oak Leaf Cluster in lieu of a Third Award of the Distinguished Flying Cross to Warrant Officer Harvey H. Rients, United States Army, for heroism while participating in aerial flight evidenced by voluntary action above and beyond the call of duty in the Republic of Vietnam on 3 October 1970. Warrant Officer Rients distinguished himself while serving as pilot of a UH-1H helicopter during an extraction mission in Thua Thien Province, Republic of Vietnam. When beleaguered ground troops requested extraction, Warrant Officer Rients, despite inclement weather, made a hazardous approach along a ridgeline to the pickup zone. Despite extremely poor visibility, only sporadic visual contact with other aircraft on the flight, and the constant danger from enemy fire, he successfully completed the initial extraction. Because a second sortie was necessary to extract all the troops, Warrant Officer Rients again made the hazardous trip at greatly reduced airspeed to successfully complete the mission. Warrant Officer Rients’ personal bravery and devotion to duty were in keeping with the highest traditions of the military service and reflect great credit upon himself, his unit, and the United States Army.
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Distinguished Flying Cross
Citation Courtesy of the Distinguished Flying Cross Society – www.dfcsociety.orgThe President of the United States of America, authorized by Act of Congress, July 2, 1926, takes pleasure in presenting a Bronze Oak Leaf Cluster in lieu of a Second Award of the Distinguished Flying Cross to Warrant Officer Harvey H. Rients, United States Army, for heroism while participating in aerial flight evidenced by voluntary action above and beyond the call of duty in the Republic of Vietnam on 31 August 1970. Warrant Officer Rients distinguished himself while serving as aircraft commander of a UH-1H helicopter during an extraction mission near Fire Support Base Spear, Republic of Vietnam. Flying to extract a beleaguered infantry unit and the crew of a downed helicopter, Warrant Officer Rients inserted a ground unit to secure the area surrounding the crippled aircraft. Despite intense hostile fire, he hovered over the area until he was able to extract the besieged troops. Learning that one soldier had been left behind, Warrant Officer Rients re-entered the area and successfully extracted the man. Warrant Officer Rients’ personal bravery and devotion to duty were in keeping with the highest traditions of the military service and reflect great credit upon himself, his unit, and the United States Army.