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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 (Infantry) Richard Harold Hummel (ASN: 0-85420), United States Army, for heroism while participating in aerial flight. On 11 November 1966, Captain Hummel was serving as the platoon leader and team leader of a heavy fire team which was ordered to the village of Bau Bang. The unit’s mission was to provide air support for an American force that had made contact and was heavily engaged with an estimated Viet Cong regiment. Captain Hummel’s fire team consisted of two helicopters armed only with the flex machine guns and one M-3 rocket ship in which he was the aircraft commander. At approximately 0930 hours, a medical evacuation helicopter extracted casualties from the immediate battle area and received five hits from the intense ground fire. The medical evacuation commander informed the ground commander that it would be impossible to complete more evacuations until the hostile fire was suppressed. At this point Captain Hummel’s team elected to escort the medical ship into the landing zone so evacuation operations could continue. With complete disregard for his safety, Captain Hummel flew his ship at tree top level, both drawing and suppressing the Viet Cong fire as he orbited around the ambulance helicopter. His aircraft placed extremely effective, suppressive fire on the insurgents, without which the medical evacuation could not have been made. During this evacuation and several others, Captain Hummel’s aircraft was hit by fragmentation from an exploding armored personnel carrier, but he continued the mission until all casualties were evacuated. Captain Hummel’s actions were in keeping with the highest traditions of the military service and reflect great credit upon himself, the 1st Infantry Division, and the United States Army.

Awards Received

  • Silver Star

    Service:

    United States Army

    Rank:

    Major (Infantry)

    Regiment:

    1st Aviation Brigade

    Action Date:

    May 10, 1968
    Headquarters, 1st Aviation Brigade, General Orders No. 6697 (September 27, 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 Major (Infantry) Richard Harold Hummel (ASN: 0-85420), United States Army, for gallantry in action in connection with military operations involving conflict with an armed hostile force while serving with the 195th Assault Helicopter Company, 1st Aviation Brigade, in the Republic of Vietnam on 10 May 1968. Major Hummel distinguished himself by exceptionally valorous actions while serving as air mission commander of combat assault operations near Saigon. During 15 hours of intense combat flying against advancing enemy forces, Major Hummel directed his company through horrendous weather at tree top level to suppress the enemy. After an initial insertion of two companies, he vectored three of his lift helicopters into enemy surrounded terrain to deliver valuable ammunition. He also hit the enemy with devastating fire power from his low level position. When an AH-1G helicopter crashed and burst into flames, he rushed to the area with two of his lift aircraft and directed them into the crash site to evacuate the wounded crew. With total disregard for his own safety, he flew through heavy anti-aircraft fire and blasted the enemy closing on the wounded crew with all available fire power. The result was the safe extraction of crew and classified material. He then rushed to the aid of a ground element in dire need of gunship support in the populated area of Saigon. Major Hummel once again flew through the deteriorating weather, located several enemy positions, and directed his gunships’ fire against the enemy. Leaving his gunships to the command of the ground commander, he answered the call for an emergency re-supply from ground elements in need of ammunition and in heavy enemy contact. With courage and determination, he flew through intense enemy ground fire to locate the friendly positions. He vectored two re-supply aircraft into the landing zone while delivering concentrated suppressive fire into the hostile positions. Through his sound judgment and determination, the main force of the enemy was defeated. 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.