
Sgt. Kenneth Altazan
Marine Medium Helicopter Sqn. 364
Quang Nam, Vietnam
Award: Navy Cross
On May 9, 1969, Sgt. Altazan serving as the crew chief on the lead aircraft of two CH-46 transport helicopters assigned to extract more than 10 Marines that were heavily engaged in combat with the North Vietnamese Army. While originally planning to land the helicopter twice to rescue the injured, the aircraft immediately came under heavy fire and scattered the wounded Marines. Undaunted, Altazan directed his crew to extract the dispersed Marines from five locations, touching the helicopter down each time. At the second extraction location, Altazan saw a Marine evacuating a casualty get shot and fall to the ground. He ran to them, lifted one onto his shoulder and grabbed the other by the arm and began to haul them to the helicopter. In the midst of his rescue effort, an enemy bullet hit the Marine he was carry causing all three to hit the ground, injuring Altazan’s knee. Altazan got up and continued to carry the Marines to safety. Landing the helicopter at the fifth zone, dangerously close to the enemy’s position, Altazan noticed another Marine casualty in the distance. Again, Altazan jumped out of the helicopter. Running out of time and in significant pain, he pulled off his heavy body armor and ran to the Marine. Upon arrival, he discovered two wounded Marines. He pulled one over his shoulder and dragged the other by his belt approximately 30 meters to the safety of the helicopter. For his heroism, Altazan originally received a Silver Star. His award was recently upgraded to the Navy Cross. (Photos courtesy of Jim Reed, Bill Feig)