Foil: 6 Panel: Distinguished Flying Cross Society Column: 3 Line: 40

Wall of Honor Level:
Air and Space Friend

Honored by:

AWARD OF THE DISTINGUISHED FLYING CROSS

TC 439, The following AWARD is announced.

RACKOFF, STEWART D. WARRANT OFFICER W1 United States Army
Troop A, 7th Squadron, 17th Air Cavalry, APO 96494
Awarded: Distinguished Flying Cross
Date of service: 15 April 1970
Theater: Republic of Vietnam
Authority: By direction of the President under the provisions of the Act of
Congress, approved 2 July 1926, Ar 672-5-1 and USARV Reg 672-1 dated 1 July 1969.
Reason: For heroism while participating in aerial flight evidenced by voluntary
actions above end beyond the call of duty: Warrant Officer Rackoff distinguished himself by exceptionally valorous actions while serving as aircraft commander of a rescue helicopter approximately three miles east of the Dak Seang special forces camp. In spite of intense automatic weapons fire, he calmly hovered above towering trees as four infantrymen rappelled from the ship in an effort to extract a wounded pilot and recover the body of an observer of a downed observation ship. As the infantrymen were inserted into the crash site, the enemy positions were taken under fire by the helicopter gunships on station. Evacuating the down crew to Dak To, he returned to the area, to extract the heroic rescue party. Lowering a rope ladder it was obvious that the heavily laden infantrymen could not safely be extracted by this method. Demonstrating superior airmanship and flying through a hail of hostile bullets, he skillfully maneuvered his aircraft down through the trees to extract the imperiled rescue team. His actions were in keeping with the highest traditions of the military service and reflect great credit upon himself, his unit, and the United States Army,