Award of Air Force Cross to Richard L. Etchberger, a War Memorial

Award of Air Force Cross to Richard L. Etchberger, a War Memorial (HM1SVD)

Location: Montgomery, AL 36115 Montgomery County
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Country: United States of America
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N 32° 24.255', W 86° 14.969'

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Inscription
Citation to Accompany the Award ofThe Air Force Cross
to


Richard L. Etchberger


Chief Master Sergeant Richard L. Etchberger distinguished himself by extraordinary heroism in connection with military operations against an opposing armed force on 11 March 1968. On this date, Sergeant Etchberger was manning a defensive position when the base was overrun by an enemy ground force. The enemy was able to deliver sustained and withering fire directly upon this position from higher ground. His entire crew dead or wounded, Sergeant Etchberger continued to return the enemy's fore thus denying them access to his position. During this entire period, Sergeant Etchberger continued to direct air strikes and call fro Air Rescue on his emergency radio, thereby enabling the air evacuation force to locate the surrounded friendly element. When Air Rescue arrived, Sergeant Etchberger deliberately exposed himself to enemy fire in order to place his three surviving wounded comrades in the rescue slings permitting them to be airlifted to safety. As Sergeant Etchberger was finally being rescued, he was fatally wounded by enemy ground fire, his fierce defense which culminated in the supreme sacrifice of his life, saved not only the lives of his three comrades but provided for the successful
evacuation of the remaining survivors of the base. Through his extraordinary heroism, superb airmanship, and aggressiveness in the face of the enemy, Sergeant Etchberger reflected the highest credit upon himself and the United States Air Force.
Details
HM NumberHM1SVD
Tags
Year Placed2004
Placed ByMaxwell-Gunter AFSNCOA Class 04-E
Marker ConditionNo reports yet
Date Added Thursday, June 30th, 2016 at 5:01pm PDT -07:00
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Locationbig map
UTM (WGS84 Datum)16S E 570578 N 3585492
Decimal Degrees32.40425000, -86.24948333
Degrees and Decimal MinutesN 32° 24.255', W 86° 14.969'
Degrees, Minutes and Seconds32° 24' 15.3" N, 86° 14' 58.14" W
Driving DirectionsGoogle Maps
Area Code(s)334
Closest Postal AddressAt or near Williamson St, Montgomery AL 36115, US
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