This Month in PJ History

1 October 67                Vietnam              Silver Star Art Cormier

Art Cormier was born in 1934 in Rumford, Maine, and grew up in Boston, Massachusetts, and Lincoln Park, New Jersey. He enlisted in the U.S. Air Force on April 23, 1954, and was trained in manpower management. He served an overseas tour in West Germany from May 1955 to November 1957, then briefly went into the Air Force Reserve before going back on active duty and serving at Suffolk County AFB, New York, from February 1958 to February 1960. From February 1960 to February 1961, Sgt Cormier was stationed at Minot AFB, North Dakota, and then went to Andrews AFB, Maryland, where he served as a Manpower Management Specialist with the 1001st Air Base Wing until March 1962. His next assignment was as a Manpower Management Specialist with Headquarters Command at Bolling AFB, Washington, D.C., from March 1962 to January 1963, followed by service as a Personal Equipment Supervisor with the 1001st Operations Group and 1001st Support Squadron at Andrews AFB from January to April 1963. SSgt Cormier next completed Pararescueman Training, and then served as a Pararescueman with the 48th Air Rescue Squadron at Eglin AFB, Florida, from March 1964 to October 1965, deploying once during this time to Southeast Asia. He then served as a Pararescueman with Detachment 5 of the 38th Air Rescue Squadron at Udorn Royal Thai AFB, Thailand, from October 1965 until the helicopter he was aboard was shot down during a rescue mission over North Vietnam on November 6, 1965. He was immediately captured and held as a Prisoner of War for the next 2,655 days until his release during Operation Homecoming on February 12, 1973. Cormier was promoted through the ranks to Senior Master Sergeant (E-8) during the time he was a POW, and was granted a direct commission as a 1st Lt by the President of the United States in May 1974. Lt Cormier completed his degree at Long Island University in June 1975 and was then assigned to Pease AFB, New Hampshire as the base fuel management officer. He served at Hahn AB, West Germany, from March 1977 to July 1980, and then at RAF Mildenhall in England until July 1983. Capt Cormier's final assignment was at Altus AFB, Oklahoma, where he served from July 1983 until his retirement from the Air Force on November 1, 1984.

His 1st (of 3) Silver Star Citation reads:

Staff Sergeant Arthur Cormier distinguished himself by gallantry in connection with military operations against an opposing armed force as Pararescue Technician aboard a rescue helicopter over North Vietnam on 6 November 1965. On that date, Sergeant Cormier voluntarily participated in a mission to recover a USAF pilot shot down over a hostile area known to contain numerous concentrations of antiaircraft batteries which would endanger any rescue efforts. As his unarmed aircraft approached the recovery area, it encountered heavy ground fire and burst into flames, forcing the crew to bail out. By his gallantry and devotion to duty, Sergeant Cormier has reflected great credit upon himself and the United States Air Force.

3 October 1996   Somalia               

AF Cross Tim Wilkinson  and Silver Star Scott Fales

The President of the United States of America, authorized by Title 10, Section 8742, United States Code, awards the Air Force Cross to Technical Sergeant Timothy A. Wilkinson for extraordinary heroism in military operations against an opposing armed force as a 24th Special Tactics Squadron Pararescueman in the vicinity of the Olympic Hotel, Mogadishu, Somalia, from 3 October 1993 to 4 October 1993. During that period, in response to an incident in which a United States helicopter had been shot down by a rocket propelled grenade, Sergeant Wilkinson conducted a fast rope insertion into the crash site and came under extremely heavy enemy fire from three directions. In the initial rescue effort, he repeatedly exposed himself to intense small arms fire and grenades to clear debris, provide emergency medical treatment to the survivors, and extract dead and wounded members of the crew from the wreckage. On his own initiative, Sergeant Wilkinson broke cover on three separate occasions to locate and provide emergency medical treatment to three Ranger casualties. In doing so, he ignored all concern for his personal safety to cross a 45 meter-wide open area blanketed with intense fire from small arms, and rocket propelled grenades. Sergeant Wilkinson's medical skills and uncommon valor saved the lives of multiple gravely wounded American soldiers in the longest sustained fire fight involving United States combat forces in over 20 years. Through his extraordinary heroism, superb airmanship, and aggressiveness in the face of the enemy, Sergeant Wilkinson reflected the highest credit upon himself and the United States Air Force.

Master Sergeant Scott C. Fales distinguished himself by gallantry in connection with military operations against an opposing armed force in Mogadishu, Somalia, from 3 October 1993 to 4 October 1993. On these dates, Sergeant Fales, a 24^th Special Tactics Squadron Pararescueman, was attached to a joint service search and rescue security team tasked to respond to the crash of a United States UH-60 helicopter. While conducting an initial assessment at the crash site, Sergeant Fales was seriously wounded in an intense fire fight involving small arms and rocket propelled grenades. Disregarding the trauma of his own wound, he continued to provide medical care to his team and provide devastating covering fire against repeated enemy attacks. Sergeant Fales’ technical expertise, personal courage and total disregard for his own personal safety were paramount to the ultimate success of the search and rescue security team mission. His decisive actions in providing expert trauma care to wounded members of his team despite his own wounded condition were paramount in limiting the number of American casualties and in bringing the extraction operation to conclusion as expeditiously as possible. By his gallantry and devotion to duty, Sergeant Fales has reflected great credit upon himself and the United States Air Force.

3 October 1995   Albuquerque NM         Airman’s Medal
Chief Master Sergeant Daniel L. Hodler distinguished himself by heroism involving voluntary risk of life at Albuquerque New Mexico, on 3 October 1995. On that date, Chief Hodler responded to a cry for help and arrived at a scene where a man had been trapped under a rolled over farm tractor. Another tractor operator's attempt to raise the fallen one failed, trapping the man again, but Chief Hodler directed a second try to allow him a chance to rescue the victim. Completely disregarding the preeminent danger to his own life, Chief Hodler slipped under the precariously raised tractor and extricated the victim. He quickly assessed the victim's condition and determined the man needed cardiopulmonary resuscitation. Even though Chief Hodler was only marginally ambulatory due to recent knee surgery and still suffering from shortness of breath due to an ensuing pulmonary embolism, he administered single-man cardiopulmonary resuscitation for 20 minutes until ambulance crews arrived to retrieve him. Shortly afterwards Chief Hodler was notified that another person needed medical attention. After assessment, despite being thoroughly exhausted, he retrieved the necessary equipment from an ambulance and administered oxygen therapy. The second victim responded to treatment and regained consciousness, and the first victim was transported to a hospital where his breathing and heart rate were restored. The exemplary courage and heroism displayed by Chief Hodler reflect great credit upon himself and the United States Air Force

4 October 1980   Prinsendam SAR John Cassidy & Jose Rios DFC’s
                                        Gulf of Alaska
Staff Sergeant John F. Cassidy and Sergeant Jose M. Rios distinguished themselves by heroism while participating in aerial flight as Pararescue Specialist, 71^st Aerospace Rescue and Recovery Squadron, Elmendorf Air Force Base, Alaska, in the Gulf of Alaska on 4 October 1980. On that date, their exemplary knowledge and outstanding airmanship, displayed under extremely hazardous conditions, culminated in successful actions in one of the greatest sea rescues in modern history. The cruise ship Prinsendam had caught fire and was in a desperate situation 120 miles at sea in the Gulf of Alaska with 519 persons, many elderly, on board. Facing night flying with low ceilings and rain, 25-foot sea swells, numerous air refuelings, transitioning the hazardous Alaskan mountain passes and 45° ocean water temperatures, they assisted in hoisting 61 survivors to safety from a tossing lifeboat. Additionally, he remained aboard a lifeboat for hours, performing invaluable survival and medical treatment. The outstanding heroism and selfless devotion to duty displayed by Sergeants Cassidy and Rios reflect great credit upon themselves and the United States Air Force.

5 October 1966   Vietnam War                Silver Stars Aaron Farrior & Robert Williamson

5 October 1968   Vietnam War                Silver Star Allen Avery

5 October 1968   Vietnam War                Silver Star Earnest Casbeer

5 October 1968   Vietnam War                Silver Star John Nusbaum

6 October 1994   Korea                            Jason Kutscher KLOD HH-60 hit power lines

6 October 1994   Korea                            Richard Setaro KLOD HH-60 hit power lines

6 October 1969   Vietnam War                Silver Star Anthony McFarr

8 October 2019   Idaho                   Peter Kraines KLOD climbing accident during training

11 October 1985 The first free fall mission jump when Master Sergeant Guy Manis and Staff Sergeant Phil Regier, 129th ARRS (ANG), Moffett Field, California, jumped to the MV Asterion to render medical treatment to an injured Seaman

18 October 1966 Vietnam War                Steven Adams KIA   HU-16
The HU-16, on which Airman Adams is a crewmember departs its base under marginal weather conditions to fly a routine SAR patrol over the Gulf of Tonkin. The weather continues to deteriorate, and eventually, the crew fails to report in on a routine radio check. When conditions permit, another HU-16 launches to search for the first. Neither wreckage or bodies are ever found. The six crewmen, including Steve, have disappeared without a trace. The crew is officially declared killed-in-action (KIA) on 18 July 1973.

20 October 1966 Vietnam War                Silver Star Robert Ward and Stephen White HH3

22 October 1966 Korea                            Robert Koecher  KLOD HH-3 crash on training mission

24 October 1969 Vietnam War                AF Cross Donald Smith  HH-3
Jolly Green 28, with Technical Sergeant Smith on board launches from the 37th ARRS, Da Nang AB, RVN, to rescue two downed F-4 crewmen. An airborne FAC Nail 07, radios both survivors are in contact with him, but the pilot, Misty 11A, has a broken leg. Jolly Green 28 arrives over Misty 11A and lowers Sergeant Smith by hoist. Smith immediately secures the downed crewman to the forest penetrator and gives the cable-up signal. Less than one minute has elapsed. When the men are approximately ten feet off the ground, a burst of automatic weapons fire hits the external hoist mount, dislodging it. The hoist assembly falls through the main cabin door knocking the flight engineer across to the far side of the aircraft. Realizing the hoist is inoperative, he shears the cable to release Smith and his survivor from the now wounded aircraft that is forced to leave the area. The high bird, Jolly 76 makes three attempts to recover Sergeant Smith and the survivor, but each time they receive intense ground fire, resulting in extensive battle damage. On the ground, despite injuries received during the fall from Jolly 28, Smith cares for his survivor, directs air assaults against enemy attackers, and repels enemy probes. His location in tall elephant grass is grueling. The hot midday sun turns it into an oven. Smith places the survivor in a makeshift shelter to protect him, and gives the injured man the last of his water. Air strikes bracket his position. It's a windless day, and Smith wonders about its final outcome. Suddenly, Jolly 15 swoops in and comes to a hover over Sergeant Smith. He grabs the survivor and carries him to the dangling penetrator. After successfully hoisting them aboard, Jolly 15 moves to recover Misty 11B, but to no avail. Each time it tries, it is raked with automatic weapons fire, which eventually forces them from the area

26 October 1969 Vietnam War                  Silver Star Barry Hebert

27 October 1975 Alaska                           Ray Brady  KLOD responding to HC-130 scramble

28 October 1966 Vietnam War                 Silver Star Al Stanek

30 October 2014 Nepal                            Sean Barton KLOD climbing accident

October 1972  Alaska                                Biggest SAR in Alaska history. Search for congressmen Hale Bogs and Nick Begich who disappeared on a flight between Anchorage and Juneau     

October 1964, the crews and their HH-43Fs went to war from Detachment 4, Pacific Air Rescue Center. Pararescuemen Chuck Walthers (NCOIC), Eddie Moak, Richard Steinert, Williams, and Michael Donegan were sent to Bien Hoa AB, RVN. This was the beginning of PJs support of the Vietnam War that lasted until 1975 and the SS Mayaguez SAR. After the SS Mayaguez incident, politicalevents compelled the withdrawal of all American Forces fromThailand. Nakhon Phanom RTAFB closed on 1 October 1975.