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 Captain Henry Clay Conant, United States Air Force, for extraordinary achievement while participating in aerial flight as a Rescue Crew Commander of an HH-3E helicopter of the 40th Aerospace Rescue and Recovery Squadron, Nakhon Royal Thai Air Force Base, Thailand, in action near Mu Gia Pass, North Vietnam, on 3 September 1967. Driven off by anti-aircraft fire in his first attempt to rescue a downed pilot, Captain Conant returned to the scene and hovered over the airman’s empty parachute. The forest penetrator was lowered and a thorough search made of the area until, lacking any contact with the survivor and faced with the advance of hostile troops, he was forced to withdraw from the scene. The professional competence, aerial skill and devotion to duty displayed by Captain Conant reflect great credit upon himself and upheld the highest traditions of the United States Air Force.
Sponsored by:
Awards Received
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Silver Star
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Silver Star
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Distinguished Flying Cross
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Silver Star
Service:
United States Air ForceRank:
CaptainBatallion:
40th Aerospace Rescue and Recovery SquadronDivision:
Nakhon Royal Thai Air Force Base, ThailandAction Date:
April 21, 1968
Headquarters, 7th Air Force, Special Order G-2941 (September 19, 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 a Bronze Oak Leaf Cluster in lieu of a Second Award of the Silver Star to Captain Henry Clay Conant, United States Air Force, for gallantry in action while engaged in military operations involving conflict with an armed hostile force as a Rescue Crew Commander of an HH-3E helicopter of the 40th Aerospace Rescue and Recovery Squadron, Nakhon Royal Thai Air Force Base, Thailand, in action in Southeast Asia on 21 April 1968. On that date, Captain Conant rescued four crew members of two United States Army helicopter gunships shot down by hostile ground fire. With complete disregard for his personal safety, Captain Conant established a steady hover, in the face of hostile gunfire, and effected the rescue of the four downed crew members. By his gallantry and devotion to duty, Captain Conant has reflected great credit upon himself and upheld the highest traditions of the United States Air Force.
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Silver Star
Service:
United States Air ForceRank:
CaptainBatallion:
40th Aerospace Rescue and Recovery SquadronDivision:
Nakhon Royal Thai Air Force Base, ThailandAction Date:
January 18, 1968
Headquarters, 7th Air Force, Special Order G-1028 (April 4, 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 Henry Clay Conant, United States Air Force, for gallantry in connection with military operations against an opposing armed force as an HH-3E Rescue Crew Commander of the 40th Aerospace Rescue and Recovery Squadron, Nakhon Royal Thai Air Force Base, Thailand, in action over North Vietnam on 18 January 1968. On that date, Captain Conant successfully recovered an Air Force pilot downed in an extremely hostile area. Initially driven off by automatic weapons fire, he returned to the survivor’s position where, despite the continued fire of unfriendly weapons directed at his helicopter he remained in a hover over the downed pilot, completely disregarding his own personal safety, until the survivor could be safely hoisted aboard the rescue vehicle. By his gallantry and devotion to duty, Captain Conant has reflected great credit upon himself and upheld the highest traditions of the United States Air Force.
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Distinguished Flying Cross
Service:
United States Air ForceRank:
CaptainBatallion:
40th Aerospace Rescue and Recovery SquadronDivision:
Nakhon Royal Thai Air Force Base, ThailandAction Date:
June 1, 1968
Headquarters, 7th Air Force, Special Order G-2886 (September 19, 1968)The 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 with Combat “V” to Captain Henry Clay Conant, United States Air Force, for heroism while participating in aerial flight as a Rescue Crew Commander of an HH-3E helicopter of the 40th Aerospace Rescue and Recovery Squadron, Nakhon Royal Thai Air Force Base, Thailand, in actioin in Southeast Asia, on 1 June 1968. On that date, Captain Conant, under attack by hostile forces, landed his helicopter on a small jungle airstrip to recover the crew of an aircraft which had been forced to land. Although the site was bombarded with mortars and his aircraft was threatened by a large armed force, Captain Conant remained on the ground until all personnel were rescued. The outstanding heroism and selfless devotion to duty displayed by Captain Conant reflect great credit upon himself and upheld the highest traditions of the United States Air Force.