The President of the United States of America takes pleasure in presenting the Distinguished Flying Cross to Lieutenant Commander James Lyman Keyes, United States Navy, for heroism and extraordinary achievement in aerial flight while serving with Detachment Three of Helicopter Attack (Light) Squadron Three in the Republic of Vietnam on 23 March 1969. Lieutenant Commander Keyes was serving as co-pilot aboard the wing aircraft in a UH-1B armed helicopter Light Fire Team on a visual reconnaissance and strike mission against entrenched enemy positions on Dai Dung Mountain near the Cambodian border. When the lead aircraft was struck by ground fire and crashed he quickly assumed tactical command and contacted the necessary units for assistance. While the aircraft commander pressed repeated attacks on the enemy positions, Lieutenant Commander Keyes spotted and placed accurate fire on the nearest enemy positions, denying him the offensive and forcing him to stay away from the wreckage and survivors. During the ensuing hour of continuous combat, he totally disregarded his own safety and coordinated ground and air units in the successful rescue of four wounded comrades. When his M-60 machine gun would no longer fire, he fired his M-16 rifle at enemy ground forces near the wreckage. Following the successful rescue of the surviving crew members, he again directed his aircraft through intense enemy fire in order to drop his remaining ammunition to Vietnamese ground forces attempting to recover the bodies and weapons from the wreckage. Lieutenant Commander Keyes’ courage under fire, decisiveness, exercise of command and demonstrated professionalism were in keeping with the highest traditions of the United States Naval Service.
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Awards Received
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Distinguished Flying Cross
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Silver Star
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Distinguished Flying Cross
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Silver Star
Service:
United States NavyRank:
Lieutenant CommanderBatallion:
Helicopter Attack (Light) Squadron 3Action Date:
April 28, 1969
The President of the United States of America takes pleasure in presenting the Silver Star to Lieutenant Commander James Lyman Keyes, United States Navy, for conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity while serving with Helicopter Attack (Light) Squadron THREE, Detachment THREE, engaged in armed conflict against the North Vietnamese and Viet Cong Communist aggressors in the Republic of Vietnam. On 28 April 1969, Lieutenant Commander Keyes was the Officer-in-Charge of Detachment THREE, flying as co-pilot aboard a Seawolf helicopter during a strike mission against enemy sampans near the Cambodian border. When the wing aircraft was struck by vicious ground fire an crashed, he calmly took the enemy positions under fire while transmitting a detailed and accurate distress call. With his own aircraft badly damaged and forced to land near the crash site, he continued to fire until landing, then abandoned the aircraft and set up a defensive position from which he repelled an enemy ground assault. Quickly establishing radio contact with a rescue aircraft, he kept his pilot informed of the tactical situation while continuing to fire at the enemy. When his crew chief moved across an open field to rescue a man from the crashed aircraft, Lieutenant Commander Keyes exposed himself to intense enemy fire in order to move to a position where he could cover him. When the enemy attacked the area with mortars, he ordered his men to gather the wounded and move to an area further from the enemy positions. As these preparations were being made, the mortars ceased and the rescue aircraft entered the area. Lieutenant Commander Keyes continued to provide covering fire while the wounded were loaded aboard. He then went to the aid of the wounded and administered first aid. The devotion to duty, courage under fire, exemplary actions, and outstanding professionalism in the face of grave personal risk were in keeping with the highest traditions of the United States Naval Service.