The weather over South Vietnam on September 16, 1972 was poor for flying to say the least; the area surrounding Đà Nẵng was under a typhoon warning. The Communist enemies of liberty took no pause for the weather.
About 90 miles south at Mộ Đức, an Army position manned by just 120 men was assaulted by 2,000 or more enemy soldiers. The commander on the ground declared a tactical emergency - they were in imminent danger of being overrun. The weather cleared enough for two young United States Air Force Captains with the 20th Tactical Air Support Squadron to board their North American Rockwell OV-10 Bronco aircraft and head for the battle. They were Joseph A. Personnett (b. 1/24/1946) and Richard L. Polling (b. 9/26/1946).
Personnett and Polling repeatedly flew their lightly armed aircraft over the battle to attack the enemy with what weapons they had, while also mustering all other support they could from the air, land-based artillery, and naval gunfire from the USS Hanson (DD-832), which had raced to the scene through mine-infested waters.
Their aircraft was repeatedly hit by enemy antiaircraft fires, and Personnett and Polling were ultimately shot down over the battle. The two ejected, and were surrounded by the enemy until rescued by Army helicopters. Both brave men received the second highest award the Air Force could grant: the Air Force Cross.
Citation for Captain Joseph A. Personnett:
The President of the United States of America, authorized by Title 10, Section 8742, United States Code, takes pleasure in presenting the Air Force Cross to Captain Joseph A. Personett, United States Air Force, for extraordinary heroism in military operations against an opposing armed force as a Forward Air Controller of the 20th Tactical Air Support Squadron, DaNang Air Base, Vietnam, in action at Mo Duc, Republic of Vietnam, on 16 and 17 September 1972. On that night, Captain Personett flew two sorties in his lightly armed OV-10 reconnaissance aircraft in monsoon weather conditions to support a small allied unit undergoing heavy ground assault by a hostile force twenty times its size. Using every means available, naval and ground artillery, tactical air support, and finally his own light internal ordnance, Captain Personett, in desperation, disregarding extremely intense and accurate anti-aircraft fire, made repeated devastating low level attacks which stopped the hostile advance short of the friendly perimeter. Credited with two hundred and sixty-five confirmed hostile personnel killed, and twenty mortars and guns destroyed before his heavily battle-damaged aircraft was finally shot down, Captain Personett's achievements were recognized by the Ground Commander as having personally saved his position and the lives of one hundred and twenty defenders. Through his extraordinary heroism, superb airmanship, and aggressiveness in the face of the enemy, Captain Personett reflected the highest credit upon himself and the United States Air Force.
Citation for Captain Richard L. Poling:
The President of the United States of America, authorized by Title 10, Section 8742, United States Code, takes pleasure in presenting the Air Force Cross to Captain Richard L. Poling, United States Air Force, for extraordinary heroism in military operations against an opposing armed force as a Forward Air Controller of the 20th Tactical Air Support Squadron, DaNang Air Base, Vietnam, in action at Mo Duc, Republic of Vietnam, on 16 and 17 September 1972. On that night, Captain Polling flew two sorties in his lightly armed OV-10 reconnaissance aircraft in monsoon weather conditions to support a small allied unit undergoing heavy ground assault by a hostile force twenty times its size. Using every means available, naval and ground artillery, tactical air support, and finally his own light internal ordnance, Captain Polling, in desperation, disregarding extremely intense and accurate anti-aircraft fire, made repeated devastating low level attacks which stopped the hostile advance short of the friendly perimeter. Credited with two hundred and sixty-five confirmed hostile personnel killed, and twenty mortars and guns destroyed before his heavily battle-damaged aircraft was finally shot down, Captain Polling's achievements were recognized by the Ground Commander as having personally saved his position and the lives of one hundred and twenty defenders. Through his superb airmanship, aggressiveness, and extraordinary heroism, Captain Polling reflected the highest credit upon himself and the United States Air Force.
I believe both men to still be living, as I wasn't able to find information to the contrary. Both brave flyers would be 66 years old today. The descendant of the 20th TASS is today's 20th Reconnaissance Squadron. They operate the General Atomics MQ-1 Predator drone from Whiteman Air Force Base in Missouri.
I recall that day very well, as I was the USS Hanson's helmsman who steered the mine infested waters to Mo Duc. Our forward magazines were packed with high explosives and I recall the stress of knowing about 400 people would perish if I veered from my course by as little as 1/2 a degree. In addition to the anti-ship minefields, there were also jagged coral reefs. It was about 8 years later before I discovered the mission was a success and that lives were saved by our swift arrival and NGFS. I too would like to know the whereabouts of Captains Poling and Personnett, as I believe we have a lot to talk about.
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