CW4 Michael J. Novosel
Chief Warrant Officer (CW3), (later CW4) Michael J. Novosel was a "man for all seasons." As a DUSTOFF pilot - that almost legendary breed of helicopter flier whose record in rescuing wounded men during battle is one of the proudest chapters in the Vietnam War -he was one of the best. He was credited with evacuating more than 2,200 wounded persons and "extracting" some 5,500 wounded soldiers and Vietnamese in all. His 60 Oak Leaf Clusters to his Air Medal, his three Distinguished Flying Crosses, and his Purple Heart denote a remarkable man. At age 48, he became the oldest member of the Army to receive the Medal of Honor, the award being made for his repeated bravery in the face of heavy Viet Cong gunfire while he extracted 29 wounded South Vietnamese soldiers during 2 1/2 desperate hours of flying on 2 October 1969. Always displaying the technical competence of the true professional, Michael J. Novosel dedicated his life to aviation, to the military services, and to his country. CW4 Michael J. Novosel was inducted into the DUSTOFF Hall of Fame on 17 February 2001.
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