Joseph S. Stanaland

The President of the United States takes pleasure in presenting a Bronze Oak Leaf Cluster in lieu of a Second Award of the Silver Star Medal to Joseph S. Stanaland, Staff Sergeant, U.S. Air Force, for gallantry in connection with military operations against an opposing armed force on Koh Tang Island in the Gulf of Thailand on 15 May 1975. On that date, Sergeant Stanaland was the Pararescue Specialist of a HH-53C helicopter which flew three sorties spanning more than fourteen hours. Sergeant Stanaland and fellow crew members placed United States Marines aboard the destroyer escort U.S.S. HOLT and then escorted a damaged aircraft to friendly territory where they recovered its contingent of United States Marines. They then delivered a contingent of United States Marines to the island despite intensive hostile fire. They remained close to the island and provided protective fire for another aircraft and escorted it to safety. Later in the day, they returned to the island and again braved heavy hostile fire to successfully remove a group of United States personnel. This courageous action aided in the recovery of the S.S. MAYAGUEZ and its crew. By his gallantry and devotion to duty, Sergeant Stanaland has reflected great credit upon himself and the United States Air Force.

The President of the United States takes Pleasure in presenting the Silver Star Medal to Joseph S. Stanaland, Staff Sergeant, U.S. Air Force, for gallantry in connection with military operations against an opposing armed force in Southeast Asia on 12 December 1970. On that date, Sergeant Stanaland and his fellow crewmembers voluntarily subjected themselves to great personal risk on three separate occasions in an attempt to rescue a critically injured American pilot from heavily defended hostile territory. Despite the fact that two rescue attempts had already been aborted due to intense hostile ground fire, Sergeant Stanaland, completely disregarding his own personal safety, voluntarily descended to the ground by rescue hoist and succeeded in recovering the inert pilot. By his gallantry and devotion to duty, Sergeant Stanaland has reflected great credit upon himself and the United States Air Force.