Southern Cross information
for F/8 CAV
For date 700605
F/8 CAV was a US Army unit
Primary service involved, US Army
Quang Tin Province, I Corps, South Vietnam
Location, Chu Lai
Description: The following is an edited version of an article titled "SILVER STAR FOR DARING RESCUE" by 16th CAG IO.
CHU LAI - Our Nation's third highest award for valor was presented to an infantry platoon leader of F/8th Air Cavalry. 1LT David L. Harrigan was awarded the Silver Star. The citation read, "1LT Harrigan was aboard a UH-1H helicopter flying in support of a visual reconnaissance mission when a sister aircraft was shot down by heavy volumes of enemy fire near Tam Ky in Quang Tin Province. After 1LT Harrigan's ship touched down alongside the burning aircraft, it came under a heavy concentration of hostile fire. With complete disregard for his personal safety, 1LT Harrigan left his aircraft and then waved it out of the area to prevent it from being damaged by the heavy enemy fire. Seeing that the pilot of the downed aircraft was engulfed by flames, 1LT Harrigan quickly grabbed his comrade, threw him to the ground, and succeeded in beating out the flames burning through the pilot's clothing. Continuing to ignore the enemy rounds still impacting around him, 1LT Harrigan then entered the smoldering aircraft and extracted the wounded door gunner. Realizing that a hovering MEDEVAC aircraft could not land in the enemy infested area, 1LT Harrigan directed the ship to a new landing zone and then carried his wounded comrades to the designated place. After placing the wounded men aboard the ship, he skillfully applied emergency first aid to the injured soldiers. Through his timely and courageous actions, 1LT Harrigan was instrumental in saving the lives of two men."
Comments: 1LT Harrigan, David L.; F/8 CAV Aero-rifle Platoon Leader; ;
The source for this information was 7006_320_scr supplied by Les Hines 12/14/2000
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Last updated
12/25/2000
Date posted on this site:
05/13/2023