John Robertson

Administrator
Staff member
  • SURNAME
Adams
  • FORENAME
Victor Ray
  • UNIT
20 Special Operations Squadron (14 S.O. Wing)
  • RANK
Technical Sergeant
  • NUMBER
13533712
  • AWARD
Air Force Cross,Distinguished Flying Cross
  • PLACE
Cambodia 1968
  • ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
from Baltimore,Maryland
born 6.1.1938 Smithfield,West Virginia
entered service 27.5.1955
basic training
completed Helicopter Mechanic School,Gary AFB March 1956
55 Air Rescue Squadron March 1956 - April 1957
HQ Mobile Air Material Area April 1957 - January 1961
818 Aircraft Support Squadron/307 Organizational Maintenance Squadron January 1961 - February 1963
5041 Tactical Operations Squadron/21 Organizational Maintenance Squadron February 1963 - February 1967
3630 Consolidated Maintenance Squadron/3750 Consolidated Aircraft Maintenance Squadron February 1967 - April 1968 (flight mechanic)
20 Special Operations Squadron April 1968 - April 1969 (flight engineer/aerial gunner)
1042 Test Squadron April 1969 - February 1970
1 Helicopter Squadron February 1970 - 31.5.1975
retired 1.6.1975 as Master Sergeant
died 1.6.1981
Arlington National Cemetery,Virginia Section 60 Site 2613
 

CITATION:

Air Force Cross : The President of the United States of America, authorized by Title 10, Section 8742, United States Code, takes pleasure in presenting the Air Force Cross to Technical Sergeant Victor R. Adams (AFSN: 13533712), United States Air Force, for extraordinary heroism in military operations against an opposing armed force while serving as a UH-1F Helicopter Aerial Gunner of the 20th Special Operations Squadron, Nha Trang Air Base, Vietnam, in action near Duc Co, Republic of Vietnam, on the night of 26 - 27 November 1968. On that date, Sergeant Adams' aircraft was shot down by hostile ground fire and crashed in dense jungle. Disregarding his own injuries and the imminence of hostile activity, he assisted the co-pilot from the burning helicopter and returned to rescue the trapped personnel. He succeeded in pulling another man from the wreckage, before the severity of the fire and subsequent explosions forced him to abandon further rescue efforts. Through his superb airmanship, aggressiveness, and extraordinary heroism, in the face of hostile forces, Sergeant Adams reflected the highest credit upon himself and the United States Air Force.

Distinguished Flying Cross : The President of the United States of America, authorized by Act of Congress, July 2, 1926, takes pleasure in presenting the Distinguished Flying Cross to Technical Sergeant Victor R. Adams (AFSN: 13533712), United States Air Force, for heroism while participating in aerial flight as an UH-1F Helicopter Aerial Gunner near Duc Co, Republic of Vietnam on 13 November 1968. On that date, Sergeant Adams rescued a Special Forces Long Range Reconnaissance Patrol which was about to be overrun by a large, heavily armed hostile force. With complete disregard for his personal safety, he stood on the landing skid of his aircraft as it descended through a barrage of hostile ground fire to guide the pilots into a constricted clearing for the rescue and to provide protective firepower for the patrol as it boarded his helicopter. The outstanding heroism and selfless devotion to duty displayed by Sergeant Adams reflect great credit upon himself and the United States Air Force.

WEB LINKS:

https://valor.militarytimes.com/hero/3574
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