From the AFA's Daily Report:
Etchberger Receives Medal of Honor: CMSgt. Richard L. Etchberger on Tuesday posthumously received the Medal of Honor, the nation's highest military decoration, from President Obama. Etchberger was honored for his conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity on a Laotian mountaintop on March 11, 1968, that saved the lives of at least three other airmen, but cost him his own life. "Our nation endures because there are patriots like Chief Master Sergeant Richard Etchberger—and our troops who are serving as we speak—who love this nation and defend it," said Obama during the White House award ceremony. He added, "This medal reflects the gratitude of an entire nation." Accepting the MOH on behalf of their father were Etchberger's three sons: Cory, Richard, and Steve. Also in attendance was retired TSgt. John Daniel, one of the airmen whose life Etchberger saved. Etchberger was a ground radar superintendent at a top-secret radar position in Laos known as Lima Site 85. When North Vietnamese ground forces overran the site, Etchberger single-handedly fended them off with an M-16 and helped his wounded comrades to the evacuation sling of a waiting rescue helicopter. When he finally climbed into the sling himself, he was mortally wounded by ground fire. "Chief Etchberger's gallantry, self-sacrifice, and profound concern for his fellow men at risk of his life, above and beyond the call of duty, reflect the highest credit upon himself and the United States Air Force," states his award citation. Etchberger will be inducted into the Pentagon's Hall of Heroes on Wednesday.
Etchberger biographyAll of the links above are worth your time.
Etchberger MOH citation
Obama's remarks
White House blog entry, including access to award ceremony video
SAF/PA report by TSgt. Amaani Lyle
USAF's Etchberger MOH Web page
For the account of what happened at Lima Site 85, read The Fall of Lima Site 85 from the Air Force Magazine archives.
See also Etchberger to Receive Medal of Honor from the Daily Report archives.
RIP, Chief Etchberger. Thank you, sir.
Courtesy photo and White House photo by Pete Souza.
He deservedly is worthy of the Medal of Honor. It's terrible he had to receive it posthumously being so close to escape though. Godspeed Chief, you are a true warrior.
ReplyDeleteA long overdue honor, Thank you Chief Etchberger! You know Buck working at the VA I've heard story after story of our brave men and women of combat. May God Bless each and everyone of them who have served and are now serving this great country!! Thank you Buck for the post!!
ReplyDeleteAnon: Yeah, Chief Etchberger deserved the MoH after the action; he got an AF Cross instead. Nixon's to blame for that.
ReplyDeleteDale: Long time, Bud! Thanks for the comment, and thanks for what you do for our vets.
Went and read the Biography, which explains somewhat the length of time this took.
ReplyDeleteHe was so brave, as were those that were there with him.
Thank you to him and to his family for his service.
It's never to late to recognize our heroes. Thank you to Chief Etchberger for his sacrifice.
ReplyDeleteVery cool. It is never too late to recognize heroes.
ReplyDeleteKath: Brave, indeed. It took LOTS of courage to go where he and the others went, and to do what they did.
ReplyDeleteBR & Lou: You're right: never too late.
Quoted from www.defense.gov
ReplyDeleteWASHINGTON, Sept. 21, 2010 – President Barack Obama today presented the Medal of Honor for conspicuous gallantry to the family of an Air Force chief master sergeant killed in action 42 years ago in Laos.
“Today, we present the Medal of Honor to an American who displayed such gallantry more than four decades ago: Chief Master Sgt. Richard L. Etchberger,” the president said at a White House ceremony. “This medal reflects the gratitude of an entire nation.”
Sgt. Etchberger most certainly stands tall among all those who have received America’s highest honor. With total disregard to his own safety, he saved the lives of others.
There were other heroes that day that also stood tall – and have just about been forgotten – and should have been on the stage with you yesterday. These were the crew members of the helicopter that hovered – in harms way – while the wounded, and Sgt. Etchberger were hoisted aboard. These heroes were not, as reported by Scott Wilson of the Washington Post, flying a U.S. military helicopter – they were civilians flying for Air America – an airline now recognized as being owned by the C.I.A.. These airman have been subsequently ignored in their efforts to be recognized as U.S. Government employees, and entitled to the privileges due them. They were operating undercover so as to bypass the role of “Military” involvement in Laos and to circumvent the Geneva Accord of 1962 which established the neutrality of Laos.
Edward G Adams
3714 Crown Shore Drive
Dallas, TX 75244
972-247-7050
egadams32@gmail.net
E.G.: Thanks for your comment. I'm aware of the former Air America employees' situation.
ReplyDeleteBottom line, the Chief was a civilian at the time of his death (working for Lockheed).
ReplyDeleteI suspect many more civilians will now be elligible for the medal. If they give the medal to civilian contractors, then no real soldier will want it.
Another sad day, when they give top military medals to the wrong people (civilian contractors).
This isn't about his bravery, it is about diminishing the worth of a medal, given to soldiers in combat who don't make contractor wages. Not even close to contractor wages.
And why - Anonymous - do you hide behind the curtain of anonymity? What are you hiding from? I am guessing that you do not know what you are talking about and do not want your ignorance to show. He may have been a civilian on record - but ipso facto - he was still working under the directon of the U.S.Government and was indeed a Real Soldier with a Capital "S". The real Sad Day is when those such as you - hiding behind anonymity, degrade others - out of ignorance of how the Big World operates
ReplyDeleteEdward G Adams
Dallas, TX 75244