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From top left, the crew of the UH-2A Seasprite helicopter that rescued 2 aviators in North Vietnam on June 19, 1968: pilot Clyde Lassen, co-pilot Leroy Cook, and gunners Donald West and Bruce Dallas. (U.S. Navy)
President Lyndon B. Johnson awards Navy Lt. Clyde Lassen the Medal of Honor during a White House ceremony in Washington, January 16, 1969. (UPI/Bettmann Archive/Getty Images)
A left front view of a Helicopter Light Anti-submarine Squadron 30 (HSL-30) SH-2F Sea Sprite helicopter preparing to land on the helicopter pad of the destroyer USS NICHOLSON (DD-982).
Episode 3301 of the Vietnam Veteran News Podcast will feature a story about the award of the Medal of Honor to Navy Vietnam Vet. The featured story is titled: This Medal of Honor recipient turned on his helicopter lights during a risky rescue in Vietnam – Clyde Lassen refused to leave two downed aviators behind.. It appeared on the We are the Mighty website and was submitted by Stephen Ruiz.
Ruiz reported in his story that on the night of June 19, 1968, during the Vietnam War, Navy pilot Clyde E. Lassen demonstrated the extraordinary courage, skill, and determination that defined the Vietnam Veteran generation. Flying a UH-2A Seasprite rescue helicopter deep into hostile North Vietnamese territory, Lassen and his crew undertook a mission many considered nearly impossible: rescuing two downed Navy aviators, Lt. Cmdr. John Holtzclaw and Lt. Cmdr. John Burns.
The aviators had ejected from their F-4 Phantom II after it was struck by a surface-to-air missile. Despite darkness, rugged terrain, intense enemy fire, and a helicopter not ideally suited for the mission, Lassen refused to abandon the stranded airmen. Multiple rescue attempts were thwarted by extinguished flares, difficult flying conditions, and even a collision with trees that damaged the aircraft. Running dangerously low on fuel, Lassen continued pressing forward.
Knowing time was running out, he switched on his landing lights, fully exposing his helicopter to enemy forces. As his crew fired into surrounding treelines to suppress enemy positions, Lassen hovered over a rice paddy long enough for the wounded aviators to reach the aircraft and be pulled aboard. He then escaped through heavy anti-aircraft fire and safely delivered the men to the USS Jouett.
For his heroism, President Lyndon B. Johnson awarded Lassen the Medal of Honor in January 1969. His actions stand as a powerful example of the bravery and selfless commitment displayed by Vietnam Veterans. Faced with overwhelming danger, they repeatedly placed duty, honor, and the lives of their fellow servicemen above their own, leaving a legacy of courage that continues to inspire Americans today.
Listen to Episode 3301 and discover more about the award of the Medal of Honor to Navy Vietnam Vet Clyde Lassen.
