SP5 Dennis Fujii

SP5 Dennis Fujii distinguished himself in February 1971 in Laos while serving as a crew chief with the 237th Medical Detachment.  Approaching a heavily defended LZ Fujii's helicopter was shot down. Another American helicopter extracted all the downed crewmen except for Fujii, who was unable to board due to intense enemy fire.  Rather than further endanger the lives of his comrades, he waved the craft off and remained behind. Disregarding his own wounds, he administered first aid to the South Vietnamese casualties. When they were attacked by a reinforced enemy regiment, he called in gunships to assist in repelling the attack. For more than 17 hours, he repeatedly exposed himself to fire as he left the security of his entrenchment to better observe enemy troop positions and to direct air strikes. On Feb. 20 he was evacuated, but the helicopter was shot down. Two days passed before Fujii finally was rescued. Dennis Fujii was awarded the Medal of Honor for his actions and inducted into the DUSTOFF Hall of Fame on 18 February 2023