By Amber K. Whittington
DLIFLC Public Affairs
Army Col. (Ret.) William Reeder Jr. and Chief Warrant Officer Four (Ret.) Daniel Jones, of the U.S. Army 361st Aviation Company, were each awarded a Silver Star on Tuesday, March 8, at the Presidio of Monterey by Congressman Sam Farr. (Photo by Amber K. Whittington, DLIFLC Public Affairs)
MONTEREY, Calif. –
After 44 years, and the persistence of an Army major, two Vietnam veterans received the Silver Star Medal on March 8, at the Presidio of Monterey in the historic Weckerling Center.
Retired Col. William Reeder Jr. and retired Chief Warrant Officer 4 Daniel Jones, both Army helicopter pilots during the Vietnam War, were presented with the third highest award exclusively for combat valor by Congressman Sam Farr.
The award was initiated by retired Army Maj. John Duffy from Santa Cruz, California, whom the two saved during their heroic actions in Vietnam during one of the most infamous battles in Vietnam, in Kontum Province, at the Battle for Charlie.
During the fight, ground forces were heavily outnumbered and under attack by heavy artillery and small arms fire. Reeder and Jones took out several lethal guns all while under intense fire from multiple anti-aircraft positions.
After leaving the battle to rearm and refuel, Reeder and Jones’ team volunteered to return to engage the enemy, when they faced even worse conditions with low clouds, smoke, haze and darkness fully setting in.
Army Col. (Ret.) William Reeder Jr. of the U.S. Army 361st Aviation Company, is awarded a Silver Star on Tuesday, March 8, at the Presidio of Monterey by Congressman Sam Farr. (Photo by Amber K. Whittington)
The heroic contributions of the two pilots lead to the escape of a dozen friendly forces and Maj. John Duffy, who was an advisor to the South Vietnamese Army.
Reeder thanked everyone who came to honor him and Jones at the ceremony, but gave an emotional word of gratitude to his special guest for the event Ke Nghiem.
“As we are being thanked for what we did, I need to thank Ke for what he did, to save my life,” said Reeder to the crowd.
After the Battle for Charlie, Reeder was taken prisoner of war, where he met Nghiem. Reeder thanked the South Vietnamese soldier for saving his life during a forced march down the Ho Chi Minh Trail.
Along with both awardees families, also present were the commanding officers during the Battle for Charlie, former South Vietnamese Army officers Lt. Col. Me Van Le and Maj. Hai Doan.
Chief Warrant Officer Four (Ret.) Daniel Jones, of the U.S. Army 361st Aviation Company, was awarded a Silver Star on Tuesday, March 8, at the Presidio of Monterey by Congressman Sam Farr. (Photo by Amber K. Whittington)
