Herbert R. Zehnder

The President of the United States of America, authorized by Act of Congress July 9, 1918 (amended by an act of July 25, 1963), takes pleasure in presenting the Silver Star to Lieutenant Colonel Herbert R. Zehnder, United States Air Force, for gallantry in connection with military operations against an armed enemy of the United States as a Helicopter Pilot during the Prisoner of War search and rescue operation at Son Tay, North Vietnam, on 21 November 1970. On that date, Colonel Zehnder volunteered to rescue and extract United States military personnel held as Prisoners of War deep inside the territory of North Vietnam. Colonel Zehnder was faced with the most intense counter-air environment in the history of aerial warfare involving surface-to-air missiles. He flawlessly executed the necessary complicated maneuvers to evade the enemy’s air defense systems. Knowing that a grave danger existed in that the guards within the Prisoner of War compound may have been alerted, he valorously, fearlessly, and successfully flew the helicopter with members of an assault group into the compound yard, knowing that he must crash-land the helicopter in an area much too small for safe landing. Once the landing was completed, he further assisted the assault group in its ground operation mission. By his gallantry and devotion to duty, Colonel Zehnder has reflected great credit upon himself and the United States Air Force.