Joseph D. Newsome

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

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

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.

Edmund Abood

Edmond P. Abood
Class of 1950
2nd Battalion (Airborne), 327th Infantry, 101st Airborne Division, USAFE

Distinguished Service Cross for galleantry in action against enemy forces on 13 August 1967. While commanding a helicopter assault into enemy territory, he directed the battalion helicopters to fly low, to make direct strikes against enemy targets. Several helicopters were shot down, and his craft suffered hits. But he and his men landed at the designated place.

On the ground, he moved to avoid sniper fire while directing a team to extinguish a fire started by a smoke grenade in nearby elephant grass. He ignored enemy machine-gun fire and shrapnel to evacuate a soldier suffering from smoke inhalation and another overcome by heat exposure.
Through the night, he continued to repel enemy forces and direct a move to safer ground — all the while exposing himself to enemy fire and rallying his men.

Bronze Star w/V for heroism during a action against a well dug in Viet Cong unit. When LTC Abood learned that on eof his platoons were pinned down, he flew to the battle area by helicopter and assisted with artillery fire on the enemy positions. Although a Medevac helicopter was unable to fly due to damage from hostile fire, Abood ordered his helicopter to land and extract the wounded. He then joined the platoon giving them encouragement and directing return fire. His presence and leadership inspired the platoon and they routed the entrenched enemy.

Air Medal w/V for heroism in aerial flight by providing night navigation support to a rifle company on the ground attempting to link up with another unit under heavy enemy fire. To overcome the visibility limiting effects of darkness and triple canopy jungle, LTC Abood ordered the aircraft to hover, with lights on, over the designated link up point. This action caused enemy gunners to unleash a heavy volume of fire at the aircraft which maintained its’ position while employing evasive maneuver until the ground commander could locate the link up point and effect contact with the unit in contact.

Army Commendation Medial w/V ror heroism in ground combat by providing leadership under fire and assisting a platoon leader in securing a landing zone in high elephant grass under fire. Under his mentorship the LZ was secured and the enemy fire silenced.