As a veteran of WWII and Korea, Chief Warrant Officer Michael “Mike” J. Novosel (left) was no stranger to war, and during the Vietnam war, he became a Huey pilot assigned to Dust Off missions with the 82nd Medical Det.
During his two tours, he would fly a total of 2,543 missions transporting more than 5,500 medical evacuees out of hostile territory.
On Oct. 2, 1969, a large enemy force pinned down South Vietnamese soldiers, sustaining heavy casualties. Novosel flew his Huey in low-level circuits over the battlefield to locate casualties. Six times, intense enemy fire forced him out of the area, but not for long. He performed 15 extractions, saving 29 soldiers. On one flight, Novosel hovered his helicopter backward into enemy fire to reach a wounded fighter and held his position while the man was pulled aboard. Novosel was wounded during the rescue. His actions in that day would earn him the Medal of Honor, on top of his 3 Dist. Flying Crosses, 3 bronze stars, and 60 air medals.
Two months later, a new pilot arriving in Vietnam requested assignment to the 82nd Medical Det. He was Warrant Officer Michael J. Novosel Jr...his son (right). A few months before the father was to return home, the son’s helicopter came under fire, and Novosel Jr. made an emergency landing. Novosel Sr., with wounded aboard his helicopter, immediately diverted off mission to rescue his son and the grounded dustoff crew. One week later, Novosel Sr. and his helicopter were grounded. He recognized the pilot coming to the rescue him—it was his son.
When balls runs in the family. #pilots #huey #stayzero #zerofoxtrot #helo #vietnamwar #military #fathernson