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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 (Air Defense Artillery) Rolla Mel Breed (ASN: 0-5406364), United States Army, for heroism while participating in aerial flight evidenced by voluntary actions above and beyond the call of duty. Captain Breed distinguished himself on 21 March 1967 while serving as aircraft commander of a UH-1D helicopter involved in a hazardous re-supply of a forward artillery base of the 3d Battalion, 4th Infantry Division. The situation was considered a tactical emergency. The Viet Cong were attacking in human waves with mortars and automatic weapons. Their attack with superior numbers of more than five-to-one, was rapidly depleting the supply of ammunition in the American defensive position. The 116th Assault Helicopter Company was called upon to perform the emergency re-supply on the beleaguered unit. Captain Breed showed superb flying skill, extreme devotion to duty, and uncommon discipline in the face of intense enemy fire throughout this encounter. He flew his aircraft into and out of the landing zone heavily loaded with ammunition and casualties. During this time the landing zone was under continuous attack. Heavy enemy small arms and automatic weapons fire raked the area. Only through his skillful maneuvering, extreme courage, and professional accomplishment was this mission successfully completed. The unit being re-supplied, gratefully received the ammunition and dealt the Viet Cong a tremendous defeat. 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.

Awards Received

  • Distinguished Service Cross

    Service:

    United States Army

    Rank:

    Captain (Coast Artillery Corps), [then First Lieutenant]

    Batallion:

    11th Combat Aviation Battalion

    Regiment:

    1st Aviation Brigade

    Action Date:

    October 22, 1966
    Headquarters, U.S. Army, Vietnam, General Orders No. 92 (January 8, 1967)

    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 (Coast Artillery Corps), [then First Lieutenant] Rolla Mel Breed (ASN: 0-5406364), 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 116th Assault Helicopter Company, 11th Combat Aviation Battalion. Captain Breed distinguished himself by exceptionally valorous actions on the night of 22 October 1966 while flying in a flight of nine troop helicopters responsible for extracting beleaguered elements of the 25th Infantry Division. Throughout the day, extremely intense hostile fire had taken its toll of infantry and helicopters. When his aircraft received several damaging hits on the first landing, Captain Breed skillfully flew to a secure area to make repairs and evacuate his wounded crew chief. Returning to the battle, he dauntlessly braved the hostile fire and impending darkness to successfully extract a lift of troops. When an aircraft was shot down on departure, Captain Breed accompanied three other aircraft back into the besieged pickup zone. As the flight attempted to insert a security force, two of the helicopters were raked by hostile fire and crashed. With complete disregard for his safety, he selflessly remained over the battlefield, hovering in the darkness and rain, until he could safely land his troops and evacuate five of his wounded comrades. After refueling, Captain Breed voluntarily led another flight of reinforcements on a successful lift into the ravaged pickup zone. When intense Viet Cong fire brought down another helicopter, he again deliberately risked his life to rescue the wounded crew. Exposing himself to the intense fire and hazardous conditions, he courageously flew into the center of the conflict for the fifth time and extracted two more wounded men. His repeated gallantry under the most critical conditions, helped save many lives. Captain Breed’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.

  • Distinguished Flying Cross

    Service:

    United States Army

    Rank:

    Captain (Air Defense Artillery)

    Batallion:

    3d Squadron

    Regiment:

    5th Cavalry Regiment

    Division:

    9th Infantry Division

    Action Date:

    January 31, 1969
    Headquarters, 9th Infantry Division, General Orders No. 4136 (April 7, 1969)

    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 to Captain (Air Defense Artillery) Rolla Mel Breed (ASN: 0-5406364), United States Army, for heroism while participating in aerial flight evidenced by voluntary actions above and beyond the call of duty in the Republic of Vietnam. Captain Breed distinguished himself by exceptionally valorous actions on 31 January 1959 while serving as a Pilot with Troop D, 3d Squadron, 5th Cavalry Regiment, 9th Infantry Division on a reconnaissance mission in Kien Hoa Province. After learning that a friendly ground force had several casualties who needed immediate evacuation, Captain Breed flew to the area to attempt the extraction of the wounded men. Finding that the landing zone was impossibly small, he directed two smaller craft to land first as he flew cover for them, but when they were unable to pick up all of the casualties, he courageously maneuvered his craft into the hazardous landing zone and skillfully extracted the men in spite of the fact that his helicopter was heavily loaded. Captain Breed’s outstanding flying ability and devotion to duty are in keeping with the highest traditions of the military service and reflect great credit upon himself, the 9th Infantry Division, and the United States Army.

  • Silver Star

    Service:

    United States Army

    Rank:

    Captain (Armor)

    Batallion:

    3d Squadron

    Regiment:

    5th Cavalry Regiment

    Division:

    9th Infantry Division

    Action Date:

    January 4, 1969
    Headquarters, 9th Infantry Division, General Orders No. 587 (January 17, 1969)

    The President of the United States of America, authorized by Act of Congress July 9, 1918, takes pleasure in presenting the Silver Star to Captain (Armor) Rolla Mel Breed (ASN: 0-5406364), United States Army, for gallantry in action while engaged in military operations involving conflict with an armed hostile force in the Republic of Vietnam. Captain Breed distinguished himself by exceptionally valorous actions on 4 January 1969 while serving as Mission Commander, Troop D, 3d Squadron, 5th Cavalry Regiment, 9th Infantry Division, on a reconnaissance in force mission in Kien Hoa Province. Disregarding his own safety, Captain Breed volunteered his craft to evacuate wounded personnel from an embattled area. As he approached the landing site the craft came under heavy fire. Disregarding the intense fire Captain Breed continued on his mission an d evacuated the wounded troops as enemy bullets riddled his helicopter and wounded one of his crew. After he had gotten the wounded to a hospital he returned to the scene of the actions and repeated the same courageous act as he rescued three more wounded men. Captain Breed’s extraordinary heroism in close combat against an armed hostile force is in keeping with the highest traditions of the military service and reflect great credit upon himself and the United States Army.

  • Silver Star

    Service:

    United States Army

    Rank:

    Captain (Armor)

    Batallion:

    3d Squadron

    Regiment:

    5th Cavalry Regiment

    Division:

    9th Infantry Division

    Action Date:

    May 9, 1969
    Headquarters, 9th Infantry Division, General Orders No. 6365 (June 5, 1969)

    The President of the United States of America, authorized by Act of Congress July 9, 1918, takes pleasure in presenting a Bronze Oak Leaf Cluster in lieu of a Second Award of the Silver Star to Captain (Armor) Rolla Mel Breed (ASN: 0-5406364), United States Army, for gallantry in action while engaged in military operations involving conflict with an armed hostile force in the Republic of Vietnam. Captain Breed distinguished himself by exceptionally valorous actions on 9 May 1969 while serving as an Aero Scout Platoon Commander with Troop D, 3d Squadron, 5th Cavalry Regiment, 9th Infantry Division, on a reconnaissance in force mission south of Cai Lay. Captain Breed was pilot of the lead aircraft involved in support of the operations of an infantry platoon when the platoon was suddenly fired upon at close range by an enemy company in well-concealed and fortified positions. Captain Breed, with total self disregard, unhesitatingly flew his craft into the brunt of the enemy fire and placed devastatingly accurate machine gun fire on the enemy. Although his craft was nearly disabled by numerous hits, when he ran out of ammunition he landed, took on more, then returned to the attack, with the final result that the friendly platoon was able to recover its casualties and rejoin its parent company. Captain Breed’s extraordinary heroism in close combat is in keeping with the highest traditions of the military service and reflect great credit upon himself, the 9th Infantry Division, and the United States Army.

  • Soldier’s Medal

    Service:

    United States Army

    Rank:

    Captain (Armor)

    Batallion:

    3d Squadron

    Regiment:

    5th Cavalry Regiment

    Division:

    9th Infantry Division

    Action Date:

    February 28, 1969
    Headquarters, 9th Infantry Division, General Orders No. 4544 (April 15, 1969)

    The President of the United States of America, authorized by Act of Congress, July 2, 1926, takes pleasure in presenting the Soldier’s Medal to Captain (Armor) Rolla Mel Breed (ASN: 0-5406364), United States Army, for heroism not involving actual combat with an armed hostile force in the Republic of Vietnam. Captain Breed distinguished himself by valorous actions on 28 February 1969 while serving as Operations Officer, Troop D, 3d Squadron, 5th Cavalry Regiment, 9th Infantry Division, on a combat mission near Mo Cay. After his helicopter had been disabled by enemy fire, Captain Breed skillfully crash landed it with minimum injuries to the personnel on board. The door gunner, however, had his foot trapped in the wreckage and the craft burst into flames on impact. Captain Breed braved intense heat and the danger of imminent explosion to help free the trapped crewman and pull him to safety. Captain Breed’s actions are in keeping with the highest traditions of the military service and reflect great credit upon himself, the 9th Infantry Division, and the United States Army.