Ralph A. Northrup

The President of the United States takes pleasure in presenting the Distinguished Service Cross to Ralph A. Northrup, Captain (Armor), 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 Troop B, 2d Squadron, 17th Cavalry, 101st Airborne Division (Airmobile). Captain Northrup distinguished himself by exceptionally valorous actions on 11 January 1970 while serving as pilot of a Light Observation Helicopter operating in support of a Ranger patrol pinned down by an enemy force in Quang Tri Province. Upon arrival at the embattled patrol’s location, Captain Northrup discovered that there was no landing zone. Despite heavy enemy fire and inclement weather, which had hindered previous extraction attempts by larger helicopters, Captain Northrup chose to cut a swath through the thick jungle canopy. Using his skids and rotor blades to part and chop several trees, he was able to hover about two meters above the ground. He remained in this position for three minutes while a critically wounded patrol member was strapped to the helicopter’s skids. He then extracted the man from the jungle and flew him to a makeshift landing zone about two thousand meters away. He repeated this action three more times under intense enemy fire. Each time he maneuvered close enough to the ground so that the stranded patrol members could cling to the skids and be lifted free. As Captain Northrup extracted the last patrol members could cling to the skids and be lifted free. As Captain Northrup extracted the last patrol member, an estimated twenty-five man enemy force swarmed over the patrol’s former position. Captain Northrup’s helicopter was so battered by damage to the rotors and from enemy fire that he was later forced to make a successful emergency landing. His extraordinary heroism and devotion to duty and keeping with the highest traditions of the military service and reflect great credit upon himself and the United States Army.
Headquarters, US Army, Vietnam, General Orders No. 1930 (June 19, 1970)