WESTHAMPTON BEACH, N.Y. - Retired Air National Guard Chief Master Sgt. Dennis M. Richardson was awarded the Air Force Cross here April 5, 40 years after the mission which earned him the Air Force's second-highest honor.
Nearly 300 members of his former unit attended his award ceremony.
Twenty-one enlisted Airmen have been awarded the Air Force Cross since its inception. Since the end of the Vietnam War, only three Air Force Crosses were awarded to enlisted Airmen including one for action in Somalia and two for action in Afghanistan.
Richardson, a flight engineer with the 106th Rescue Wing for 30 years, was recognized for his actions during a rescue mission March 14, 1968, in Vietnam.
"In an extraordinary display of courage and valor, Richardson, despite his wounds, leaned far outside the door of his helicopter and neutralized charging enemy combatants who appeared intent on boarding," his citation reads.
"It was a long, scary day," said Richardson, "and I don't think I did anything different than the rest of the crew."
On that day, two HH-53 Jolly Green Giant rescue helicopters were called in to rescue two men of a downed F-4 Phantom fighter aircraft. The helicopters repeatedly moved in to make a pick-up but were driven away by gunfire. Both aircraft sustained heavy damage, said retired Brig. Gen. Frank Cardile, a pilot on the mission.
Richardson displayed exceptional courage when he stood unprotected in the door of his helicopter to drive off the enemy, said Cardile, who presented Richardson's medal.
The team failed to make the pickup, Cardile said. Ultimately, it took 10 Army helicopters, full of Soldiers, to rescue one Airman.
Richardson and three other crew members on the mission were put in for awards. Three of them received Silver Star Medals. Although Richardson's medal had been granted, it was lost in paperwork.
A military history buff uncovered a paper trail that showed Richardson had been granted the medal. In December, an Air Force review panel recently confirmed the award and restored the medal.
Richardson, a Xerox repairman who was famed around the 106th for his gruff manner and his knowledge of helicopters, said he was glad he was able to receive the Cross in front of the Airmen he'd served with.
"This is my family," he said. It was good to get the recognition and share it with the people he cared about, he added.
Col. Michael Canders, commander of the 106th, recalled another mission he and Richardson had flown one dark night, many years ago.
A training flight had turned into a mission to rescue a sick Seaman, Canders recalled, and their helicopter was running low on fuel.
"Don't waste your time down there sonny boy, we're running out of gas," Canders remembered Richardson telling the pararescueman who left the helicopter for the deck of the ship.
Sure enough, the veteran flight engineer was right, Canders said. Just as they landed, the low fuel light came on.
Lt. Gen. Donald Hoffman, chief of Air Force acquisition, represented the secretary of the Air Force at the ceremony. Rep. Tim Bishop, of Long Island and New York State Deputy Secretary for Homeland Security Michal Balboni also attended.
Based at Gabreski Field, the 106th conducts search and rescue missions. The unit also provides rescue support for Space Shuttle launches and recently sent a contingent of Airmen to support Operation Enduring Freedom in Afghanistan, where they flew 145 missions.