COLONEL DOUGLAS EUGENE MOORE, (then Major) Medical Service Corps, United States Army, 159th Medical Detachment (Helicopter Ambulance), 68th Medical Group, 44th Medical Brigade. For extraordinary heroism in connection with military operations involving conflict with an armed hostile force in the Republic of Vietnam. Major Moore distinguished himself by exceptionally valorous actions on 10 and 11 December 1968 as commander of an ambulance helicopter near Trung Lap. Responding to a request to evacuate a critically wounded infantryman, Major Moore found that the ground unit was pinned down by enemy fire from a treeline one hundred meters away. Braving a hail of bullets, he maneuvered his ship down through trees and bushes into a tiny pickup site and successfully extracted the casualty. At twilight the same unit was in heavy contact with the communists, but was short on men and ammunition and was unable to secure a landing zone. While the infantrymen placed as much suppressive fire on the hostile positions as he could, Major Moore exposed his helicopter to the enemy snipers and rescued four more seriously wounded soldiers. During the night the North Vietnamese launched a heavy mortar, rocket-propelled grenade and automatic weapons attack. Early in the morning, after flying missions for several other units, Major Moore agreed to evacuate a number of casualties although illumination rounds would silhouette his aircraft and incoming small arms fire was still being received. A fierce enemy fusillade erupted as the ship touched down, but he calmly waited until eight casualties were aboard before departing the landing zone. He had barely cleared the perimeter when the North Vietnamese fusillade hit his ship from both sides and one round tore through his helmet, knocking him from the controls and sending the aircraft into a steep bank. Despite being wounded and unable to see out of one eye, Major Moore righted the helicopter and aided his pilot in reporting the enemy locations to the command and control ship and the ground elements. Major Moore’s extraordinary heroism and devotion to duty were in keeping with the highest traditions of the military service and reflect great credit upon himself, his unit, and the United States Army.

Colonel Moore resides in Virginia.