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Vietnam War Congressional Medal of Honor Recipient
Lt. Clyde Everett Lassen
Commander, United States Navy,
(1942-1994)
Clyde Everett Lassen, a native of Fort Myers, Florida, earned the Congressional Medal of Honor for his courageous rescue of two downed aviators while commander of a search and rescue helicopter in Vietnam.
On June 19, 1968, Lassen, then a 27 year old Lieutenant flying a UH-2 Seasprite, embarked on a mission to recover two downed naval aviators whose plane had been shot down deep in North Vietnamese territory. Upon reaching the hilly terrain where the aviators were hiding, LT Lassen made several attempts to recover the aviators, but dense tree cover, enemy weapons fire and intermittent illumination frustrated his efforts. Determined to complete his mission, LT Lassen turned on the landing lights of the helicopter, despite the danger of revealing his position to the enemy. After the pilots made their way to the helicopter and with his damaged helicopter dangerously low on fuel, LT Lassen evaded further antiaircraft fire before landing safely at sea onboard a guided missile destroyer-with only five minutes of fuel left in the helicopters fuel lines.
The account of the rescue was logged as a successful, routine search and rescue mission. But at the home base for Helicopter Combat Squadron Seven, the rescue flight of June 19, 1968, will always be acclaimed as one of the most daring feats of flying to come out of the Vietnam War .
LT Lassen became the first naval aviator and fifth Navy man to be awarded the Medal of Honor for bravery in Vietnam.
CITATION Rank and organization: Lieutenant, U.S. Navy, Helicopter Combat Support Squadron 7, Detachment 104, embarked in USS PREBLE (DLG-15). place and date: Republic of Vietnam, 19 June 1968. Entered service at: Jacksonville, Fla. Born: 14 March 1942, Fort Myers, Fla. Citation: "For conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity at the risk of his life above and beyond the call of duty as pilot and aircraft commander of a search and rescue helicopter, attached to Helicopter Support Squadron 7, during operations against enemy forces in North Vietnam. Launched shortly after midnight to attempt the rescue of 2 downed aviators, Lt. (then Lt. (j.g.)) Lassen skillfully piloted his aircraft over unknown and hostile terrain to a steep, tree-covered hill on which the survivors had been located. Although enemy fire was being directed at the helicopter, he initially landed in a clear area near the base of the hill, but, due to the dense undergrowth, the survivors could not reach the helicopter. With the aid of flare illumination, Lt. Lassen successfully accomplished a hover between 2 trees at the survivors' position Illumination was abruptly lost as the last of the flares were expended, and the helicopter collided with a tree, commencing a sharp descent. Expertly righting his aircraft and maneuvering clear, Lt. Lassen remained in the area, determined to make another rescue attempt, and encouraged the downed aviators while awaiting resumption of flare illumination. After another unsuccessful, illuminated rescue attempt, and with his fuel dangerously low and his aircraft significantly damaged, he launched again and commenced another approach in the face of the continuing enemy opposition. When flare illumination was again lost, Lt. Lassen, fully aware of the dangers in clearly revealing his position to the enemy, turned on his landing lights and completed the landing. On this attempt, the survivors were able to make their way to the helicopter. En route to the coast he encountered and successfully evaded additional hostile antiaircraft fire and, with fuel for only 5 minutes of flight remaining, landed safely aboard USS JOUETT (DLG-29) . His courageous and daring actions, determination, and extraordinary airmanship in the face of great risk sustain and enhance the finest traditions of the United States Naval Service."
The medal was officially presented 16 January 1969.
SECRETARY OF THE NAVY NAMES NEW GUIDED MISSILE DESTROYERS FOR MEDAL OF HONOR RECIPIENTS
Secretary of the Navy John H. Dalton announced his decision to name three new Arleigh Burke Class Guided Missile Destroyers (DDG) to honor Navy and Marine Corps Medal of Honor recipients. The ships are:
Lassen (DDG 82) honors Cmdr. Clyde Everett Lassen, USN, (1942-1994), a Medal of Honor recipient for his courageous rescue of two downed aviators while commander of a search and rescue helicopter in Vietnam. Then-Lt. Lassen made several attempts to recover the pilots, but dense tree cover, enemy weapons fire, and intermittent illumination frustrated his efforts. Determined to complete his mission, Lt. Lassen turned on the landing lights of his helicopter, despite the danger of revealing his position to the enemy. After the pilots made their way to the helicopter and with his bullet-riddled helicopter dangerously low on fuel, Lt. Lassen evaded further anti-aircraft fire before landing safely at sea onboard a guided missile destroyer. There is one former ship USS Lassen (AE 3) (1941-1947), an ammunition ship named for the volcanic peak of that name in Calif. Howard (DDG 83) honors Gunnery Sgt. Jimmie E. Howard , USMC, (1929-1993), recipient of the Medal of Honor for his leadership of a platoon against repeated attacks by a battalion-size Viet Cong force. After receiving severe wounds from an enemy grenade, he distributed ammunition to his men and directed air strikes on the enemy. By dawn, his beleaguered platoon still held their position. Gunnery Sgt. Howard also received the Silver Star Medal for service in Korea. A previous Howard (DD 179) (1920-1945), named for Charles W. Howard, a U.S. Navy hero from the Civil War, earned six battle stars in World War II.
Bulkeley (DDG 84) honors Admiral John Duncan Bulkeley, USN, (1911-1996), recipient of the Medal of Honor, Navy Cross, and numerous other decorations for heroic actions during World War II. In command of Motor Torpedo Boat Squadron Three and Seven during the defense of the Philippines, he evacuated Gen. MacArthur and President Quezon of the Philippines, and destroyed several Japanese planes, surface combatants, and merchant ships despite unfavorable odds. As Commander, MTB Squadron 102, he supported the Normandy and Southern France invasions. After the war, he eventually became President, Board of Inspection and Survey, where he continued to serve after being transferred to the retired list on Jan. 1, 1974.
The Arleigh Burke Class DDGs are multi-mission ships equipped with the Navy's AEGIS combat weapons system, which combines space-age communication, radar and weapons technologies in a single platform for unlimited flexibility while operating "ForwardFrom the Sea." They are extremely versatile and designed to operate independently as a multi-threat offensive platform or in support of aircraft carrier and amphibious operations. These ships are 505 feet in length, with a beam of 66 feet, and displace 8,580 tons when fully loaded. Four gas turbine engines power the ship to speeds in excess of 30 knots.
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