The President of the United States of America takes pleasure in presenting a Bronze Oak Leaf Cluster in lieu of a Second Award of the Distinguished Flying Cross to Captain (Field Artillery) Kenneth E. Rubin (ASN: 0-5406362), United States Army, for heroism while participating in aerial flight evidenced by voluntary actions above and beyond the call of duty. Captain Rubin distinguished himself by exceptionally valorous actions while flying a smoke laying helicopter in support of a combat assault north of Tra Co, Republic of Vietnam. He began preparation for the assault by laying smoke along the heaviest defended tree line. He flew through a hail of enemy ground fire to accomplish his mission. Although wounded by shrapnel as a result of several hits, he placed another smoke screen just ahead of the landing slicks. He noticed two troop carrying helicopters go down as a result of enemy fire. Award of the danger involved, he quickly flew directly between the enemy forces and the two downed aircraft, putting smoke in the eyes of the enemy. This action enabled another aircraft to land and rescue the crews. Captain Rubin’s courage and professionalism are 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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Silver Star
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Distinguished Flying Cross
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Distinguished Service Cross
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Silver Star
Service:
United States ArmyRank:
Captain (Field Artillery)Batallion:
145th Combat Aviation BattalionRegiment:
12th Combat Aviation Group, 1st Aviation BrigadeAction Date:
December 26, 1967
Headquarters, 1st Aviation Brigade, General Orders No. 1193 (March 6, 1968)The President of the United States of America, authorized by Act of Congress July 9, 1918 (amended by an act of July 25, 1963), takes pleasure in presenting the Silver Star to Captain (Field Artillery) Kenneth E. Rubin (ASN: 0-5406362), United States Army, for gallantry in action while engaged in military operations against an armed hostile force while serving with 334th Assault Helicopter Company, 145th Combat Aviation Battalion, 12th Combat Aviation Group, 1st Aviation Brigade. Captain Rubin distinguished himself while serving as Aircraft Commander of an unarmed smoke laying helicopter, supporting troop carrying helicopters by laying a smoke screen close to the ground. As he was laying the screen his aircraft came under heavy enemy fire. Without regard to his own personal safety, he continued his smoke run. When an enemy round ripped through the cockpit of the aircraft, wounding him in the leg, he continued laying smoke until the troop ships were safely away from the landing zone, and only then did he seek medical attention. His actions 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
Service:
United States ArmyRank:
Captain (Field Artillery)Batallion:
145th Combat Aviation BattalionRegiment:
12th Combat Aviation Group, 1st Aviation BrigadeAction Date:
August 1, 1967
Headquarters, 1st Aviation Brigade, General Orders No. 4792 (October 6, 1967)The President of the United States of America, authorized by Act of Congress July 9, 1918 (amended by an act of July 25, 1963), takes pleasure in presenting the Distinguished Flying Cross to Captain (Field Artillery) Kenneth E. Rubin (ASN: 0-5406362), United States Army, for heroism while participating in aerial flight evidenced by voluntary actions above and beyond the call of duty. Captain Rubin distinguished himself on 1 August 1967 while flying as Aircraft Commander and Fire Team Leader of two armed helicopters on a reconnaissance mission in the Rung Sat Special Zone. He was covering the main shipping channel between the South China Sea and the Saigon dock complex, when he received a distress call from a commercial ship that had been ambushed by a group of insurgents. When he arrived in the area, he made several low level passes over the area and spotted the insurgents in a well camouflaged position. During the firing pass, the enemy set off a command detonated bomb that rocked the aircraft and damaged the hydraulic systems. After regaining control of his badly damaged aircraft, he continued the attack until all ammunition was expended. Through his highly accurate fire, four enemy had been killed and the position badly damaged. His actions 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 Service Cross
Service:
United States ArmyRank:
Captain (Field Artillery)Batallion:
145th Combat Aviation BattalionRegiment:
12th Combat Aviation Group, 1st Aviation BrigadeAction Date:
January 31, 1968
Headquarters, U.S. Army, Vietnam, General Orders No. 4314 (September 11, 1968)The President of the United States of America, authorized by Act of Congress, July 9, 1918 (amended by act of July 25, 1963), takes pleasure in presenting the Distinguished Service Cross to Captain (Field Artillery) Kenneth E. Rubin (ASN: 0-5406362), United States Army, for extraordinary heroism in connection with military operations involving conflict with an armed hostile force in the Republic of Vietnam, while serving with 334th Assault Helicopter Company, 145th Combat Aviation Battalion, 12th Combat Aviation Group, 1st Aviation Brigade. Captain Rubin distinguished himself by exceptionally valorous actions on 31 January 1968 as mission commander of a firefly-heavy fire team at Bien Hoa Air Force Base. As his team refueled in the early morning hours after their third mission, the base came under heavy rocket and mortar fire. Captain Rubin and his ream immediately sought out the launching positions, directing devastating aerial rocket and machine gun fire into them. Returning to Bien Hoa after completing this and another engagement, they found the east end of the perimeter under intense automatic weapons attack. Captain Rubin exposed the enemy positions by flying low and attracting their fire, enabling his gunships to then rake the Viet Cong. His helicopter was hit, and both the pilot and gunner were wounded. He secured another ship, and next aided a ground unit which had sent an urgent request for gunship support. This accomplished, his team continued the search for the enemy. Locating a force of nearly two hundred Viet Cong, Captain Rubin directed his team in strikes on them, while he lay down a sheet of fire to keep the enemy from escaping. As daylight came, more hostile positions were discovered and silenced. Spotting two wounded Air Force guards caught between enemy forces, Captain Rubin directed his ships in an attack on the Viet Cong positions which annihilated them and permitted him to land and rescue the trapped men. He then coordinated with ground security forces as they swept the area and wiped out the remaining resistance. Captain Rubin’s extraordinary heroism 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.