AWARDED DFC: 3
CONFLICT/SPACE FLIGHT/EVENT:  Vietnam
MODEL:  UH-1

Citation:  1.) The President of the United States takes great pleasure in presenting the award of the Distinguished Flying Cross to Benjamin M. Prieb, Lieutenant, Signal Corps Group, United States Army, Troop D, 1st Squadron, 4th Cavalry, for action dated 11 November 1965 in the Republic of Vietnam for heroism while participating in aerial flight: On this date, Lieutenant Prieb was flying as team leader of an armed helicopter team. His unit had been ordered to the village of Bau Bang, where an American force had been attacked and was heavily engaged with an estimated Viet Cong regiment. At approximately 0930 hours, a medical evacuation helicopter made an extraction of casualties in the immediate battle area and received five hits from the intense ground fire. With wounded and dying Americans on the ground, the evacuation helicopter pilot told the ground commander that it would be impossible for more evacuations unless the intense ground fire was suppressed. At this point, Lieutenant Prieb elected to escort the ambulance helicopter in for the pickups. With total disregard for his own safety, he directed his team to fly at low level to both draw and suppress Viet Cong fire. As they orbited closely around the vulnerable ambulance ship, his team placed extremely effective suppressive fire on the insurgent force without which the medical evacuation could not have been made. Through this maneuver, his aircraft was hit by Viet Cong fire, but he continued the mission until all evacuations were made. Although Lieutenant Prieb had only flown in combat for a few weeks, he took complete command of the situation and displaying marked gallantry, successfully accomplished this mission. First Lieutenant Prieb’s actions are in keeping with the finest traditions of the military service and reflect great credit upon himself, the 1st Infantry Division and the United States Army.

2.) The President of the United States takes great pleasure in presenting the award of the Distinguished Flying Cross (First Oak Leaf Cluster) to Benjamin M. Prieb, Captain, Signal Corps Group, United States Army, Troop D, 1st Squadron, 4th Cavalry, for action dated 3 May 1966 in the Republic of Vietnam for heroism while participating in aerial flight: On this date, Captain Prieb was flying an armed helicopter which was given the mission of providing overhead cover for a recovery ship which was to extract a friendly reconnaissance patrol which was under hostile fire and which had one man critically wounded in the unsecured landing zone. Due to the heavy fire and close proximity of the Viet Cong, a safe landing was not anticipated. As the lightly armed recovery ship began its approach, three sides of the landing zone exploded with intense automatic weapons fire and .50 caliber machine guns fired at the low orbiting gunships. Defying the Viet Cong fire, Captain Prieb directed his ship into a low level orbit above the landing helicopter and poured machine gun fire and rockets into the Viet Cong positions. The deadly cover provided by the gunship enabled the patrol to make their way to the recovery ship and its safety. Although exposed to hostile fire, Captain Prieb continued to fly at tree top level, providing the cover that was necessary for the patrol members. Not stopping until the patrol had been lifted to a safe altitude, Captain Prieb headed his bullet riddled helicopter back to the base camp and prepared for another extraction. Captain Prieb’s actions are in keeping with the finest traditions of the military service and reflect great credit upon himself, the 1st Infantry Division and the United States Army.

3.) The President of the United States takes great pleasure in presenting the award of the Distinguished Flying Cross (Second Oak Leaf Cluster) to Benjamin M. Prieb, Captain, Signal Corps Group, United States Army, Troop D, 1st Squadron, 4th Cavalry, for action dated 4 June 1966 in the Republic of Vietnam for heroism while participating in aerial flight: Late in the evening on this date, Captain Prieb piloted an armed UH-1B helicopter in an aerial attack on Viet Cong mortar positions which had been shelling the Army of the Republic of Vietnam complex at Loc Ninh. Disregarding the hostile ground fire, Captain Prieb placed effective aerial fire on the attacking insurgents. Within moments many Viet Cong lay dead around the camp perimeter and the remainder retreated as Captain Prieb effectively continued his devastating barrage of rocket fire. Captain Prleb's flying skill, while exposed to intense ground fire, resulted in the destruction of the insurgent mortar positions and the abortion of a major Viet Cong offensive. Captain Prieb’s actions are in keeping with the finest traditions of the military service and reflect great credit upon himself, the 1st Infantry Division and the United States Army.