AWARDED DFC: 1
CONFLICT/SPACE FLIGHT/EVENT:  Vietnam
MODEL:  UH-1D

Citation:  1.) The President of the United States takes great pleasure in presenting the Distinguished Flying Cross to Specialist Five Walter J. House for heroism while participating in aerial flight as evidenced by voluntary actions above and beyond the call of duty in the Republic of Vietnam on 13 May 1971 while serving as Crew Chief of a UH-1H command and control helicopter during the emergency extraction of a seriously ill soldier in Thua Thien Province, Republic of Vietnam. Although his aircraft was not equipped to extract the man, Specialist House agreed to attempt the mission. After locating a possible landing zone, Specialist House climbed onto the skid and guided his pilots down among trees so close, that at one time, the ground unit had to be asked to hold a small tree out of the way in order to keep it away from the main rotor blades. Once seven feet above the ground, Specialist House hung from his knees to pull the sick man up to where he could be assisted aboard the aircraft and remained to recover the soldier’s equipment. In acting as the only guidance for his pilots, as the aircraft descended into and departed the jungle clearing, he was directly responsible for the success of the extraction. Specialist Five House’s courage and devotion to duty were in keeping with the highest traditions of the military service and reflect great credit upon himself, his unit, and the United States Army.