Garry G Cooper

Flight Lieutenant Garry G. Cooper, Royal Australian Air Force, distinguished himself by extraordinary heroism in military operations against an opposing armed force as a Forward Air Controller attached as an Air Liaison Officer to the 3rd Brigade, 9th Infantry Division, (U.S. Army), on 18 August 1968, in the Republic of Vietnam. On that date, after being shot down in an OH-23 observation helicopter, Flight Lieutenant Cooper rescued a badly wounded Brigade Commander from the wreckage under extremely heavy automatic weapons fire. Although wounded himself, but with complete disregard of his own safety, he carried the Colonel to a protected area where he fought off several attempts to over-run them killing ten enemy soldiers at close range. During the helicopter rescue next day, he killed a further two enemy with his empty AR-15. Flight Lieutenant Cooper was solely responsible for the saving of Colonel Archer under overwhelming odds. Through his extraordinary heroism superb airmanship and aggressiveness in the face of the enemy, Flight Lieutenant Cooper reflected the highest credit upon himself and the United States Air Force.

The President of the United States of America, authorized by Act of Congress, July 2, 1926, has awarded the Distinguished Service Cross to Flight Lieutenant Garry G. Cooper Royal Australian Air Force for extraordinary heroism while participating in aerial flight, evidenced by voluntary actions above and beyond the call of duty in Vietnam on 10 May 1968. On this date, Flight Lieutenant Cooper distinguished himself by exceptionally valorous actions while serving as a pilot of an O-1 Birddog during an engagement between two U.S. Army Infantry companies and a battalion-sized enemy element. From his overhead position, Flight Lieutenant Cooper flew at a low altitude to mark enemy positions with smoke grenades and fired his personal weapon at the exposed enemy, despite the continual harassing enemy anti-aircraft and small arms fire which resulted in significant damage to his airplane. As a result of his actions, U.S. Air Force attack aircraft successfully engaged the enemy positions and disrupted their attack, thereby allowing the Infantry companies to assault the enemy positions and seize their mission objectives. Flight Lieutenant Cooper’s outstanding flying ability and devotion to duty were in keeping with the highest traditions of the military service and reflect great credit upon himself, the Royal Australian Air Force and his country.