Henry W. Steadman

The President of the United States takes pleasure in presenting a Gold Star in lieu of a Second Award of the Silver Star Medal to Henry W. Steadman (0-59087), Lieutenant Colonel, U.S. Marine Corps, for conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity in action while serving with Marine Medium Helicopter Squadron 364 (HMM-364), 1st Marine Aircraft Wing, in connection with combat operations against the enemy in the Republic of Vietnam on December 19, 1970. By his courage, aggressive fighting spirit and steadfast devotion to duty in the face of extreme personal danger, Lieutenant Colonel Steadman upheld the highest traditions of the Marine Corps and the United States Naval Service.

The President of the United States takes pleasure in presenting the Silver Star Medal to Henry W. Steadman (0-59087), Major, U.S. Marine Corps, for conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity in action while serving as Commanding Officer of Marine Medium Helicopter Squadron THREE HUNDRED SIXTY-FOUR (HMM-364), Marine Aircraft Group SIXTEEN (MAG-16), FIRST Marine Aircraft Wing in connection with combat operations against the enemy in the Republic of Vietnam. On the morning of 19 December 1970, Lieutenant Colonel Steadman launched as a Section Leader of a flight of two CH-46 transport helicopters assigned the mission of transporting elements of two Marine companies to various sites in Quang Nam Province. While on an approach to one of the landing zones in the Que Son Mountains, his aircraft lost power, crashed approximately seventy-five yards short of the landing zone, rolled to its left, came to rest upon its port side among some large boulders, and immediately burst into flames. After exiting the cockpit, Lieutenant Colonel Steadman looked back into his transport and saw that his copilot was unconscious and pinned down between his armored seat and the deck. Undaunted by exploding mortar rounds and ammunition and the intense heat, Lieutenant Colonel Steadman broke through one of the panels and reentered his helicopter. Upon seeing that one of his aerial gunners was pinned down in the wreckage and flames were rapidly moving toward him, he boldly assisted another Marine in freeing the aerial gunner and dragging him to safety through the broken windshield. Resolutely returning to the side of his copilot, Lieutenant Colonel Steadman aided another Marine in freeing the copilot’s foot which was caught in the rudder pedal area, cut the straps securing the man to his seat, and then pulled him to the windshield where others helped to lift him out and carry him to safety. By his courage, bold initiative, and unwavering devotion to duty in the face of great personal danger, Lieutenant Colonel Steadman was instrumental in saving the lives of two of his fellow Marines and upheld the highest traditions of the Marine Corps and of the United States Naval Service.