James P. Fleming

James Phillip Fleming (born March 12, 1943) is a former United States Air Force pilot who served in the Vietnam War.Born in Sedalia, Missouri, he was awarded the Medal of Honor for rescuing a six-man MACV-SOG reconnaissance team, stranded between heavily defended enemy positions, near Đức Cơ, Vietnam in 1968.In 1968, Fleming was an aircraft commander of a UH-1F transport helicopter assigned to the 20th Special Operations Squadron at Ban Me Thuot East Airfield in the Republic of Vietnam.On November 26, a six-man reconnaissance team of Army Special Forces Green Berets had been lifted into Vietnam's western highlands, near the Cambodian border and about 30 miles (48 km) west of Pleiku.He instead flew over the river and hovered just above the water, with his landing skids against the bank, hoping that the special forces troops would be able to run the few yards to his helicopter safely.As the mines exploded, he again lowered his helicopter to the river bank, balancing against it, giving the Green Berets an open cargo door through which to leap to safety.
Air Force version of the Medal of Honor
Sedalia, MissouriUnited States Air ForceColonel20th Special Operations SquadronMACV-SOGVietnam WarMedal of HonorSilver StarLegion of MeritDistinguished Flying CrossMeritorious Service MedalAir MedalĐức CơPullman, WashingtonBan Me Thuot East AirfieldRepublic of VietnamArmy Special Forceswestern highlandsPleikuforward air controllerViet CongWhite HouseRichard NixonAir MedalsOfficer Training SchoolLackland Air Force BaseUS Air Force Command Pilot Badge"V" deviceoak leaf clusterAir Force Outstanding Unit AwardAir Force Organizational Excellence AwardCombat Readiness MedalNational Defense Service Medalservice starArmed Forces Expeditionary MedalVietnam Service Medalcampaign starsAir Force Longevity Service AwardSmall Arms Expert Marksmanship RibbonAir Force Training RibbonVietnam Gallantry CrossRepublic of Vietnam Gallantry CrossVietnam Campaign MedalUnited States Army Center of Military History