Colonel (then a Captain) LeLAND T. KENNEDY received his first Air Force Cross for extraordinary heroism in connection with military operations against an opposing armed force in Southeast

Asia on 5 October 1966. On that date, Captain Kennedy, flying as pilot of an unarmed HH-3E rescue helicopter, proceeded deep into hostile territory in an attempt to rescue two downed American pilots. Disregarding his own safety, he voluntarily flew through heavy automatic weapons and intense small arms fire to reach the injured airmen. Captain Kennedy succeeded in rescuing one of the downed Americans. However, heavy ground fire forced him from the area before he could reach the other one. Through his extraordinary heroism, supurb airmanship, and aggressiveness in the face of the opposing force, Captain Kennedy reflected the highest credit upon himself and the United States Air Force.

Colonel Kennedy, deceased, was sponsored by another Legion of Valor member in 2005.

View Colonel Kennedy’s Oak Leaf Cluster citation.