Captain Ralph A. Northrop, received the Distinguished Service Cross in recognition of his extraordinary heroism in conflict with an armed hostile force in the Replubic of Vietnam on 11 January 1970. He was then serving as pilot of a Light Observation Helicopter operating in support of a Ranger patrol pinned down by an enemy force in Quang Tri Province. Upon arrival at the embattled patrol’s location, Captain Northrop discovered that there was no landing zone. Despite heavy enemy fire and inclement weather, which had hindered previous extraction attempts by larger helicopters, Captain Northrop chose to cut a swath through the thick jungle canopy. Using his skids and rotor blades to part and chop several trees, he was able to hover about two meters above the ground. He remained in this position for three minutes while a critically wounded patrol member was strapped to the helicopter’s skids. He then extracted the man from the jungle and flew him to a makeshift landing zone about two thousand meters away. He repeated this action three more times under intense enemy fire. Each time he maneuvered close enough to the ground so that the stranded patrol members could cling to the skids and be lifted free. As Captain Northrop extracted the last patrol members could cling to the skids and be lifted free. As Captian Northrop extracted the lats patrol member, an estimated twenty-five man enemy force swarmed over the patrol’s former position. Captain Northrop’s helicopter was so battered by damage to the rotors and from enemy fire that he was later forced to make a successful emergency landing. His extraordniary heroism and devotion to duty and keeping with the highest traditions of the military service and reflect great credit upon himself and the United States Army.

CPT. Northrop joined the Legion of Valor in 1973.