Book Description

FROM THE FORWARD: This ninth essay of the Southeast Asia Monograph Series tells the stories of the 12 Air Force heroes who were awarded the Congressional Medal of Honor for action in Vietnam. The Author, Major Schneider, has chosen a most unusual and effective way of presenting his material, for he is greatly concerned with the contextual aspects of what he descriobes: that is, he devotes considerable attention to the history of the Medal itself, particularly insofar as airman of earlier wars are concerned, to the aircraft in which these latest recipients flew, and to the missions with which both the men and their machines were entrusted. These factors, then are put in the context of the battle arena - Vietnam, with all of its special conditions and limitations. There 12 airman of the United States Air Force acted with such courage, devotion, and utter selflessness that they were subsequently awarded the highest recognition their country could bestow, the Medal of Honor. There of the men died in the actions for which they were cited. But in one sense at least they and the other will never die, for their actions have insured that their names will live as long as determination, fidelity, bravery, and nobility of spirit are traits that human beings admire. NOTE: This previously out-of-print manuscript is reproduced here so that their bravery maybe remembered.