John C. Bahnsen, Jr.

The President of the United States takes pleasure in presenting the Distinguished Service Cross to John C. Bahnsen, Jr. (0-73597), Major (Armor), U.S. Army, for extraordinary heroism in connection with military operations involving conflict with an armed hostile force in the Republic of Vietnam. Major Bahnsen distinguished himself by exceptionally valorous actions on 23 January 1969 as Commanding Officer, Air Cavalry Troop, 11th Armored Cavalry Regiment. Informed of a sizable enemy force, Major Bahnsen landed at the hostile area, reconnoitered and marked a landing zone for a rifle platoon in full view of the hostile troops. Leaving the site, he saw fifteen communists and engaged them with his rifle, firing from the window of his helicopter. He killed two of the enemy and remained at a low altitude to direct additional fire upon them until his crew chief was seriously wounded by the hostile barrage which struck their ship. Major Bahnsen evacuated the crew chief, refueled and rearmed, and sped back to the battle. Again taking the communists under fire and forcing them to a confined area, he marked their position and directed five air strikes against them, while at the same time controlling four separate rifle platoons. Intense enemy fire crippled his ship[, forcing him to aquifer another aircraft. On his return, Major Bahnsen landed to guide in the lift ships carrying an additional infantry unit, and then led a rifle platoon through dense terrain to personally capture were evacuated by helicopter, he remained on the ground and led the squad two kilometers back to friendly positions. Major Bahnsen’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. 1096 (March 31, 1969)

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 John C. Bahnsen, Jr. (0-73597), Major (Armor), U.S. Army, for gallantry in action while engaged in military operations involving conflicts with an armed hostile forces on 17 October 1968 while serving as the Commanding Officer of the Air Cavalry Troop of the 11th Armored Cavalry Regiment, in the Republic of Vietnam. On this date elements of the 11th Armored Cavalry Regiment engaged a company-sized North Vietnamese force within the Ba Da secret zone. During the firefight, the friendly force began receiving an intense concentration of automatic weapons fire from the numerically superior enemy force and immediately called for reinforcements. With the arrival of the friendly reinforcements, the hostile elements began withdrawing into the dense jungle terrain. One platoon from the 2d Mechanized Infantry Regiment and one aero rifle platoon pursued the enemy elements for two kilometers, until they were suddenly engaged by heavy automatic weapons fire from well-concealed positions. Observing the enemy force from the air, Major Bahnsen began directing highly-accurate suppressive fire into the North Vietnamese Army positions. After making a number of passes, landed Major Bahnsen positioned himself in front of the friendly forces, in full view of the enemy elements, and began directing his troop’s advancement on the hostile positions. He was forced to seek cover when his position was raked by a barrage of automatic weapons fire, but after directing his gunship’s fire onto the enemy force, he again exposed himself to the enemy fire and with shouts of encouragement to his men, led them on an all-out assault on the North Vietnamese positions, completely overrunning and destroying the hostile elements. Major Bahnsen’s exceptional courage and aggressive leadership wore in keeping with the highest traditions of the military service and reflect great credit upon himself, his unit and the United States Army.

The President of the United States takes pleasure in presenting a Fourth Bronze Oak Leaf Cluster in lieu of a Fifth Award of the Silver Star Medal to John C. Bahnsen, Jr. (0-73597), Major (Armor), U.S. Army, for gallantry in action while engaged in military operations involving conflict with an armed hostile force on 6 September 1969 while serving as Commanding Officer of the 1st Squadron, 11th Armored Cavalry Regiment, in the Republic of Vietnam. On this date Major Bahnsen was flying in his command and control helicopter when he was informed of contact involving one of the squadron’s troops nearby. He made low-level flights over the area while helping to direct the ground forces. Learning that the troop commander had been seriously wounded, he directed his pilot to land. When he landed, he discovered five prisoners had been captured and he helped to load them on the ship with the commander. Major Bahnsen remained on the ground to direct the forces. Mounting an armored cavalry assault vehicle, he led his men, forcing the enemy to break contact and resulting in sixty-nine enemy killed in action. Major Bahnsen’s actions were in keeping with the highest traditions of the military service and reflect great credit upon himself, his unit and the United States Army.

The President of the United States takes pleasure in presenting a Second Bronze Oak Leaf Cluster in lieu of a Third Award of the Silver Star Medal to John C. Bahnsen, Jr. (0-73597), Major (Armor), U.S. Army, for gallantry in action while engaged in military operations involving conflict with an armed hostile force on 3 February 1969 while serving as the Commanding Officer of the Air Cavalry Troop of the 11th Armored Cavalry Regiment, in the Republic of Vietnam. On this date while he was conducting a routine reconnaissance mission, his aircraft suddenly began receiving heavy automatic weapons fire from a well-concealed and heavily-fortified enemy base camp. Reacting instantly, Major Bahnsen returned to his base of operations, quickly assembled his Aero Rifle Platoon, and returned to the contact area. After beginning an assault upon the hostile position, he realized that the hostile fire was larger than he had anticipated. He therefore called his troops back and established a cordon around the hostile fortification. For the next three hours, Major Bahnsen, under constant enemy fire, directed air and artillery strikes against the enemy forces from his low flying aircraft. While directing the bombardment of the area, he requested that a tank company and an armored cavalry assault vehicles arrived, he directed them into an assault formation and, disregarding his personal safety, flew his aircraft at treetop level over the enemy positions in order to effectively direct the final assault on the enemy base camp. When the hostile fortifications had been overrun, Major Bahnsen observed a number of enemy troops attempting to flee from the friendly forces. He immediately landed his helicopter and directed an assaulted upon the retreating enemy soldiers, killing one and capturing another. Major Bahnsen’s courage and dedication 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.

The President of the United States takes pleasure in presenting a Third Bronze Oak Leaf Cluster in lieu of a Fourth Award of the Silver Star Medal to John C. Bahnsen, Jr. (0-73597), Major (Armor), U.S. Army, for gallantry in action on 29 May 1969, while engaged in military operations involving conflict with an armed hostile force while serving as Commanding Officer of the 1st Squadron, 11th Armored Cavalry Regiment, in the Republic of Vietnam. When one of his troops was stopped by heavy enemy fire and dense jungle, Major Bahnsen directed the ground action as he made low passes over the contact area directing artillery, air strikes and helicopter gunships against an entrenched enemy bunker complex. Although his aircraft was repeatedly hit by ground fire, he refused to leave the area or fly at a higher altitude. After being forced to make an emergency landing at his base camp, he mounted a mechanized flame thrower and with his headquarters command group of cavalry assault vehicles moved under an air strike and through intense enemy fire to the point of heaviest contact. There he reorganized his ground teams by shouting instructions and encouragement to his troops. After expending his flame thrower against bunkers, Major Bahnsen led a dismounted attack against one bunker, clearing it with his rifle. Realizing the need for additional force, he then called in air strikes. As the enemy broke contact, Major Bahnsen then organized a hasty defensive position for the night among the enemy bunkers. Major Bahnsen’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.

The President of the United States takes pleasure in presenting the Silver Star Medal to John C. Bahnsen, Jr. (0-73597), Captain (Armor), U.S. Army, for gallantry in action against the enemy on 2 February 1966 while serving as aircraft commander and fire team commander on an armed UH-1B helicopter near Vuc Lien, Republic of Vietnam. After making visual reconnaissance and providing overhead cover for the ground forces, Captain Bahnsen landed his fire team in a supposedly secure area. While being briefed by the ground commander, a Viet Cong force ambushed the unit. At this time Captain Bahnsen fearlessly led his fire team through intense automatic weapons fire to their aircraft, took off, daringly attacked the enemy forces, and saved the Marine force from having heavy casualties. When another company was ambushed, Captain Bahnsen aggressively made low level attacks on the Viet Cong positions and, while receiving intense hostile fire, evacuated three critically wounded Marines. Upon returning from the evacuation mission, intense hostile fire was received during a low level reconnaissance flight. Captain Bahnsen dauntlessly made three firing passes on the insurgent positions, called for artillery fire and, after exhausting his ordnance, rearmed and returned to support the Marine force. Captain Bahnsen’s courage during ten hours of intense hostile fire was an inspiration to his men and the Marine ground force. Captain Bahnsen’s unimpeachable valor in the face of intense fire was in keeping with the highest traditions of the military service and reflects great credit upon himself, his unit, and the United States Army.