Larry Liss
Class of 1963
Aviation Detachment, II Field Force, USARV

Distinguished Flying Cross for heroism while participating in an aerial flight in an unarmed helicopter he transported reinforcements to the battle and evacuated wounded.

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Jack Geoghegan
Class of 1963
1st Battalion, 7th Cavalry, 1st Cavalry Division (Airmobile), USARV

Silver Star for gallantry in action against a numerically superior force of North Vietnam Regulars.

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Clarence Bell
Class of 1963
Advisory Team 27, Binh Dinh Province, USMACV

Bronze Star for heroism in the Binh Dinh Province. After coming under heavy fire from the Viet Cong, then First Lieutenant Bell moved quickly to the front. Despite heavy enemy fire, Bell provided covering fire for the treatment of the wounded and accurately directed artillery fire against the enemy. As the Viet Cong advanced, he conducted a delaying action, which allowed for the withdrawal of the remaining personnel.

 

 

Frank W. LiVolsi
Class of 1962
1st Squadron, 11th Armored Cavalry Regiment, USARV

Army Commendation Medal w/V for heroism during a ground combat against well entrenched enemy snipers attempting to interfere with the effectiveness of a cordon and search operation. Because of the spatial inter-mixing of friendly and enemy forces, the use of heavy weapons was impossible. Captain Livolsi exposed himself to enemy fires in order to control friendly fires against them, so as to not impact friendly personnel. He personally engaged enemy snipers positions with an M-79 grenade launcher and hand grenades repeatedly, intermittently directing treatment and evacuation of wounded personnel. His leadership and determination inspired those around him and was instrumental to the defeat of the enemy force and success of the overall operation.

Edward R. Underwood
Class of 1961
Air Cavalry Troop, 11th Armored Cavalry Regiment, USARV

Silver Star for conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity in action against the enemy while serving as Aero Scout Platoon Leader.

Distinguished Flying Cross for heroism while participating in aerial flight evidenced by voluntary actions above and beyond the call of duty

Richard J. Pavia
Class of 1961

Advisory Team 70 (3^rd Battalion,
9^th Infantry Regiment, 5^th ARVN Infantry Division), USMACV

Bronze Star w/Valor for heroism while serving as an assistant battalion advisor during combat operations in the Lai Khe area. When the advancing unit he was with was fired on by three concealed snipers, 1LT Pavia personally attacked the enemy positions without hesitation. His actions resulted in one wounded enemy soldier and he personally captured a second. His selfless actions served to inspire the rest of the unit to advance and sweep through the enemy position and secure the area.

Bronze Star w/Valor (OLC) for heroism while serving as battalion advisor in the An Loc area. While engaged in a clearing operation 1LT Pavia and the unit he accompanied came under intense fire from an entrenched enemy force. Disregarding his own personal safety, he repeatedly exposed himself to enemy fire in order to rescue and move to safety wounded soldiers lying in exposed locations. Concurrently he gave tactical advice to the unit commander and helped to orchestrate suppressive fires to facilitate the unit to withdraw to move favorable terrain. His decisive actions were credited with saving the lives of over 200 ARVN soldiers.

 

Joseph D. Newsome
Class of 1961
145th Aviation Battalion, 1st Aviation Brigade, USARV

Distinguished Flying Cross for heroism For heroism in aerial flight as the pilot of an armed helicopter during the savage Battle of Dong Xoai in 1965. During the initial assault into what became an intensely hot LZ to include mortar fire into the landing area, Captain Newsome provided suppressive fire unto the flanks of the LZ allowing assaulting personnel to respond to the enemy attack. When one of the troop carrying aircraft was disabled by a mortar round and crashed, Captain Newsome without regard for his own safety and under extremely heavy fire, attempted to rescue the crew. During that descent he was hit by another mortar round, and just before touch-down the damaged helicopter on the ground exploded. At that point Captain Newsome broke his approach and provided suppressive fire for the ARVN unit and their advisors. His further attempts to rescue American advisors ended when the Viet Cong directed their fire into the advisors’ position and the unit became overwhelmed by the enemy force. With no communications in his aircraft, little remaining ammunition or gas, and a very damaged ship he reluctantly broke contact and departed the area.

228th Aviation Battalion (Assault Support Helicopter) (Airmobile) 1st Cavalry Division (Airmobile), USARV

Distinguished Flying Cross with OLC for heroism above and beyond the call of duty in aerial flight, while serving as a flight leader during Operation Delaware in the A Shau Valley in early 1968. During that period the anti-aircraft defenses and troop concentrations in the A Shau Valley were not equaled anywhere in Vietnam, and maneuver units frequently found themselves in emergency situations as a result. Despite these facts and also that numerous aircraft had been lost that day in attempting to resupply an engaged unit, Major Newsome repeatedly flew into a hostile LZ to delivery critical ammunition and other critical supplies essential to the survival of that unit and the success of the operation. Each approach was under fire.

David H. Baim
Class of 1961
Advisory Team 75, 2nd Battalion, 12th Regiment, 7th Infantry Division, (ARVN), USMACV

Bronze Star w/Valor for valorous actions. While serving as an advisor within the 2nd Battalion, a reinforced Viet Cong battalion ambushed and overwhelmed the Vietnamese troops. While some Vietnamese troops withdrew under the heavy fire, Lt. Baim remained calm and directed the Vietnamese commander to regroup and counterattack. The counterattack resulted in breaking the assault of the Viet Cong attack.

Interview conducted by New York State Military Museum Click Here

William J. Thompson
Class of 1953
MAAG-Vietnam, 47th Separate Infantry Regiment, ARVN

Silver Star for gallantry during an encounter between the lead units of the battalion against an enemy entrenched in a wooded area that dominated the field of battle. Captain Thompson rushed to the front and began to reorganize the dispersed Vietnamese units and those sent to retrieve four stalled armored scout carriers the dead and wounded. After successfully rallying the troops, he led them forward against the enemy, disregarding his own safety. Despite the constant enemy fire, he assisted these units in evacuating their wounded and dead.