AWARDED DFC: 2
CONFLICT/SPACE FLIGHT/EVENT:  Vietnam
MODEL:  CH-53D

Citation:  1.) The President of the United States takes pleasure in presenting the Distinguished Flying Cross to Captain Robert F. Wemheuer, United States Marine Corps for heroism and extraordinary achievement in aerial flight while serving as a Pilot with Marine Heavy Helicopter Squadron 463, Marine Aircraft Group Sixteen, First Marine Aircraft Wing in connection with combat operations against the enemy in the Republic of Vietnam. On 23 February 1971, while participating in Operation Lam Son 719, Captain Wemheuer launched as Section Leader of the second section in a flight of four CH-53 transport helicopters assigned the emergency mission of extracting field artillery pieces and heavy equipment from Fire Support Base Hotel II, deep in enemy-controlled territory, where Army of the Republic of Vietnam units occupying the base had come under such heavy pressure and intense fire from a large North Vietnamese Army force surrounding their position that the base rapidly became untenable. Arriving over the beleaguered position, he. found· that deteriorating weather conditions, smoke, haze, and approaching darkness would severely restrict visibility and that numerous enemy antiaircraft and mortar sites in the area would endanger each approach he made to the extraction zone. Undaunted by the extremely heavy volume of hostile fire directed at his aircraft, Captain Wemheuer resolutely braved the North Vietnamese fire on three separate occasions as he skillfully maneuvered into the hazardous area, safely extracted two 155mm and one 105mm artillery pieces, and delivered them to Fire Support Base Delta I. When the flight leader's transport was downed by hostile fire and forced to land in one of the gunpits on the base. Captain Wemheuer completely disregarded his own safety as unhesitatingly maneuvered to a hover above the downed crew and fearlessly remained in his precarious position while an extraction ladder was lowered and three of the crewmen attached themselves to the ladder. With exceptional skill, he then lifted out of and departed the dangerous area. Captain Wemheuer's courage, superior airmanship, and unwavering devotion to duty in the face of great personal danger were in keeping with the highest traditions of the Marine Corps and of the United States Naval Service.

2.) The President of the United States takes pleasure in presenting a gold star in lieu of the second Distinguished Flying Cross to Captain Robert F. Wemheuer, United States Marine Corps for heroism and extraordinary achievement in aerial flight while serving as a Pilot with Marine Heavy Helicopter Squadron 463, Marine Aircraft Group Sixteen, First Marine Aircraft Wing in connection with combat operations against the enemy in the Republic of Vietnam. From 30 January to 21 March 1971, Captain Wemheuer participated in Operation Lam Son 719 as Aircraft Commander of a CH-53 transport helicopter and amassed one hundred and seven point three flight hours during numerous resupply insertion and extraction missions in support of Army of the Republic of Vietnam units whose fire support bases deep in enemy-controlled territory were under heavy pressure and intense fire from large North Vietnamese Army forces. Particularly noteworthy were his heroic actions on 7 March during the emergency resupply of a fire support base which was in danger of being overrun. Launching as Section Leader of the second section in a flight of four transports, Captain Wemheuer, undaunted by the extremely heavy volume of hostile fire directed at his helicopter and impacting in the drop zone, fearlessly maneuvered his aircraft with its external loads through the North Vietnamese fire on high speed approaches· to the beleaguered position and skillfully executed quick releases of the vital cargo into the drop zone. As a result of his bold and resolute efforts, six twelve-thousand pound loads were safely delivered to the endangered fire base. Captain Wemheuer's courage, superior airmanship, and unwavering devotion to duty in the face of great personal danger were instrumental in accomplishing the hazardous mission and were in keeping with the- highest traditions of the Marine Corps and of the United States Naval Service.