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 award of the Distinguished Flying Cross to Roland J. Scheck, Specialist Four E4, United States Army, 176th Assault Helicopter Company, 14th Combat Aviation Battalion, for heroism while participating in aerial flight evidenced by voluntary actions above and beyond the call of duty. Specialist Four Scheck distinguished himself by exceptionally valorous actions on 15 May 1967 in the Republic of Vietnam while serving as door gunner aboard a UH-1D helicopter to reinforce a unit of the 101st Airborne Division which was in heavy contact with an enemy force of unknown size. When the aircraft entered the area, it was suddenly hit by intense automatic weapons and small arms fire. Specialist Scheck immediately located one enemy position and began placing suppressive fire upon it until he had silenced it. When his helicopter landed under an intense barrage of mortar fire, Specialist Scheck, with disregard for his own safety, maintained his position and continued to fire on enemy bunkers, keeping the enemy fire at a minimum. Almost immediately, a second lift of reinforcements was needed and Specialist Scheck unhesitatingly volunteered to assist. Although their landing was again subject to intense enemy fire, Specialist Scheck continued to place effective fire on the enemy positions. When the aircraft departed from the landing zone, the enemy fire increased in intensity and several enemy rounds struck Specialist Scheck, wounding him in the leg. Seeing that there were several wounded personnel in the area who were pinned down by heavy enemy fire and unable to make it to a waiting aircraft, Specialist Scheck, disregarding his painful wound, undauntingly directed his fire into the enemy positions, allowing the wounded to make their way to the helicopter. Specialist Scheck's courage, determination, intense devotion to duty, and his heroic actions are in keeping with the highest traditions of the military service and reflect great credit upon himself, the Americal Division, and the United States Army.