Norman M. Bissell

The President of the United States takes pleasure in presenting the Distinguished Service Cross to Norman M. Bissell (0-94364), Major (Infantry), U.S. Army, for extraordinary heroism in connection with military operations involving conflict with an armed hostile force in the Republic of Vietnam, while serving with Headquarters and Headquarters Troop, 7th Squadron, 1st Air Cavalry, 164th Aviation Group, 1st Aviation Brigade. Major Bissell distinguished himself by exceptionally valorous actions on 28 December 1968 as commander of an Iroquois helicopter southwest of Can Tho. Informed a Vietnamese unit was pinned down during heavy action and the American advisor had been seriously wounded, Major Bissell coordinated with supporting gun ships and attempted to rescue the man from a rice paddy. He touched down, but was unable to remain because of intense automatic weapons fire which scored three hits on his craft. After instructing the armed helicopters to again strike the communists’ strongholds, he made a second landing and waited until the advisor was located in the tall grass. Leaving the ship to help the man aboard, the door gunner was hit in the face by automatic weapons fire. Major Bissell was wounded in the neck as bullets riddled his aircraft, forcing him to depart without the gunner and advisor. Making an evasive, spiraling approach, he then re-entered the rice paddy. Although enemy fire mortally wounded the door gunner, severed two engine oil lines and damaged the tail rotor drive shaft, Major Bissell successfully loaded the advisor aboard and flew the crippled helicopter to a hospital. Major Bissell’s extraordinary heroism and devotion to duty were in keeping with the highest traditions of the military service and reflect great credit upon himself, his unit, and the United States Army.
Headquarters, US Army, Vietnam, General Orders No. 1899 (May 27, 1969)