- SURNAME
Strahan
- FORENAME
Ronnie
- UNIT
6 SF Group (Company B)
- RANK
Sergeant First Class
- NUMBER
- AWARD
Silver Star
- PLACE
North Vietnam 1970 (Son Tay)
- ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
CITATION:
Silver Star : The President of the United States of America, authorized by Act of Congress, July 8, 1918 (amended by act of July 25, 1963), takes pleasure in presenting the Silver Star to Sergeant First Class Ronnie Strahan, United States Army, for gallantry in action on 21 November 1970 as a member of an all-volunteer joint U.S. Army and Air Force raiding force in the Joint Chiefs of Staff-directed heliborne assault mission to rescue United States military personnel held as prisoners of war at Son Tay prison in North Vietnam. This valiant effort was motivated by deep compassion for his imprisoned fellow men-at-arms, and by a strong sense of military duty and national pride. Sergeant Strahan was assigned the mission of destroying a power line tower and establishing the primary and alternate landing zones for the recovery helicopters. He came under intense small arms and automatic weapons fire while en route to the tower. Realizing it was imperative that the tower be destroyed to enable the recovery helicopters to land, he assaulted and neutralized the enemy position. After destroying the tower with demolitions, he again came under fire while he was establishing the primary landing zone. Disregarding the risk to his life, he continued with his mission until the two landing zones were prepared. His extraordinary heroism and determination contributed immeasurably to the success of the mission. Sergeant Strahan's disregard for his personal safety, extraordinary heroism against an armed hostile force, and extreme devotion to duty are in keeping with the highest traditions of the military service and reflect great credit on himself and the United States Army.
WEB LINKS:
https://valor.militarytimes.com/hero/24783
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