Michael J. Novosel
Michael J. Novosel | |
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Army Distinguished Service Medal Distinguished Flying Cross (3) Bronze Star (2) Purple Heart Air Medal (64) | |
Relations | Brian Clevinger, grandson[1] |
Michael J. Novosel Sr. (September 3, 1922 – April 2, 2006) of
In April 2023,
Biography
Novosel was born in
During the Korean War, Novosel joined the Air Force Reserve and went back on active duty to serve his country. He left the service again in 1953 and was promoted to the rank of lieutenant colonel in the Air Force Reserve in 1955.
In 1963, Novosel was working as a commercial airline pilot when he decided to return to active military duty. By then, he was 41 and the Air Force did not have space for any more officers in the upper ranks. He decided to give up his rank of lieutenant colonel in the Air Force to join the Army and fly helicopters as a chief warrant officer (CW4) with the elite Special Forces Aviation Section. He served his first tour in Vietnam flying medevac helicopters (Dustoff) with the 283rd Medical Detachment. His second tour in Vietnam was with the 82nd Medical Detachment. During that war, Novosel flew 2,543 missions and extracted 5,589 wounded personnel, among them his own son Michael J. Novosel Jr. The following week, Michael Jr. returned the favor by extracting his father after he was shot down.[3]
On the morning of October 2, 1969, Novosel set out to evacuate a group of South Vietnamese soldiers who were surrounded by several thousand North Vietnamese light infantry near the Cambodian border. Radio communication was lost and the soldiers had expended their ammunition. Without air cover or fire support, Novosel flew at low altitude under continuous enemy fire. He skimmed the ground with his helicopter while his medic and crew chief pulled the wounded men on board. He completed 15 hazardous extractions, was wounded in a barrage of enemy fire, and momentarily lost control of his helicopter, but when it was over, he had rescued 29 men. He completed his tour in March 1970.
Novosel retired as the senior warrant officer with the Warrant Officer Candidate Program in 1985. He had been a military aviator for 42 years and was the last World War II military aviator in the U.S. to remain on active flying duty. He accumulated 12,400 military flying hours, including 2,038 in combat. He remained active in the military community while residing in Enterprise, Alabama, during his retirement, and he was frequently invited as an honored guest for military lectures and ceremonies throughout the nation. He co-piloted the liftoff of the Bell UH-1 Iroquois for the In the Shadow of the Blade mission in 2002. His book Dustoff – The Memoir of an Army Aviator was published in 1999.
Novosel was diagnosed with a recurrent cancer in November 2005, and he underwent a series of treatments at
Honors
In 1971, President
Army Senior Aviator Badge | |||||||||||
Air Force Command Pilot Badge
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Medal of Honor | Army Distinguished Service Medal
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Distinguished Flying Cross with two bronze oak leaf clusters |
Bronze Star Medal with bronze oak leaf clusters |
Purple Heart | |||||||||
Award numeral 64
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Army Commendation Medal | Army Good Conduct Medal
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American Defense Service Medal | American Campaign Medal | campaign stars
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World War II Victory Medal | Army of Occupation Medal with 'Japan' clasp |
Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal | |||||||||
National Defense Service Medal with service star |
Air Force Longevity Service Award with two bronze oak leaf clusters |
Vietnam Service Medal with four bronze campaign stars | |||||||||
Army Service Ribbon | hourglass device
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Philippine Independence Medal | |||||||||
Vietnam Gallantry Cross with gold star |
Vietnam Armed Forces Honor Medal 1st class |
Republic of Vietnam Campaign Medal
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Air Assault Badge |
In May 2022,
Medal of Honor citation
Rank and organization: Chief Warrant Officer, U.S. Army, 82d Medical Detachment, 45th Medical Company, 68th Medical Group.
Place and date:
Kien Tuong Province, Republic of Vietnam, October 2, 1969. Entered service at: Kenner, La. Born: September 3, 1922, Etna, Pa.Citation:
- For conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity in action at the risk of his life above and beyond the call of duty. CWO Novosel, 82d Medical Detachment, distinguished himself while serving as commander of a medical evacuation helicopter. He unhesitatingly maneuvered his helicopter into a heavily fortified and defended enemy training area where a group of wounded Vietnamese soldiers were pinned down by a large enemy force. Flying without gunship or other cover and exposed to intense machinegun fire, CWO Novosel was able to locate and rescue a wounded soldier. Since all communications with the beleaguered troops had been lost, he repeatedly circled the battle area, flying at low level under continuous heavy fire, to attract the attention of the scattered friendly troops. This display of courage visibly raised their morale, as they recognized this as a signal to assemble for evacuation. On 6 occasions he and his crew were forced out of the battle area by the intense enemy fire, only to circle and return from another direction to land and extract additional troops. Near the end of the mission, a wounded soldier was spotted close to an enemy bunker. Fully realizing that he would attract a hail of enemy fire, CWO Novosel nevertheless attempted the extraction by hovering the helicopter backward. As the man was pulled on aboard, enemy automatic weapons opened fire at close range, damaged the aircraft and wounded CWO Novosel. He momentarily lost control of the aircraft, but quickly recovered and departed under the withering enemy fire. In all, 15 extremely hazardous extractions were performed in order to remove wounded personnel. As a direct result of his selfless conduct, the lives of 29 soldiers were saved. The extraordinary heroism displayed by CWO Novosel was an inspiration to his comrades in arms and reflect great credit on him, his unit, and the U.S. Army.
See also
References
- ^ Clevinger, Brian (April 10, 2006). "Episode 681: Of Civilizations". 8-Bit Theater. Nuklearpower.com. Archived from the original on 22 February 2009. Retrieved 24 December 2009.
- ^ Gore, Leada (2022-05-24). "Fort Rucker to be renamed to honor Alabama man, Medal of Honor recipient Michael Novosel". al. Retrieved 2022-10-11.
- ^ "Michael J. Novosel, Jr". United States Air Force. October 27, 2002. Archived from the original on October 27, 2002.
- ^ "Burial Detail: Novosel, Michael L. (Section 7A, Grave 178-C)". ANC Explorer. Arlington National Cemetery. (Official website).
- ^ "Fort Rucker officially renamed Fort Novosel". CNN. April 10, 2023.
External links
- "homeofheros.com: Novosel, Michael J." Retrieved October 4, 2010.
- "history.amedd.army.mil: Michael J. Novosel". Archived from the original on November 12, 2008. Retrieved October 4, 2010.
- Bernstein, Adam (April 4, 2006). "Decorated Veteran Michael J. Novosel". The Washington Post. Retrieved October 4, 2010.
- Simonich, Milan (April 5, 2006). "Obituary: Michael J. Novosel / Medal of Honor winner dies at 83". Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. Retrieved October 4, 2010.
- "The Michael Novosel J. Foundation". Archived from the original on January 19, 2011. Retrieved October 4, 2010.
- "In The Shadow of the Blade". Retrieved October 4, 2010.
- "Michael J. Novosel, Sr". at ArlingtonCemetery.net. 5 July 2022. (Unofficial website).