Rodney ALLEN Knutson

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 Rodney Allen Knutson (1550347), Lieutenant Commander, U.S. Navy (Reserves), for conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity while interned as a Prisoner of War in North Vietnam from 19 to 25 October 1965. Lieutenant Commander Knutson’s captors, completely ignoring international agreements, subjected him to extreme mental and physical cruelties in an attempt to obtain military information and false confessions for propaganda purposes. Through his resistance to those brutalities, he contributed significantly toward the eventual abandonment of harsh treatment by the North Vietnamese, which was attracting international attention. By his determination, courage, resourcefulness, and devotion, Lieutenant Commander Knutson reflected great credit upon himself and upheld the highest traditions of the Naval Service and the United States Armed Forces.

The President of the United States takes pleasure in presenting the Silver Star Medal to Rodney Allen Knutson (1550347), Lieutenant Commander, U.S. Navy (Reserves), for gallantry in connection with military operations against an opposing armed force after being shot down while serving as a Pilot in Fighting Squadron EIGHTY-FOUR (VF-84), embarked from the U.S.S. Independence (CVA-62), in action in North Vietnam, on 17 October 1965. Shortly after parachuting onto enemy soil, Lieutenant Commander Knutson was surrounded by village militia armed with rifles. In the face of great personal risk, he elected to fight rather than surrender. Defending himself with his service revolver, he shot at his rifle-armed adversaries, inflicting two casualties prior to being overwhelmed by their superior numbers. By his daring actions, extraordinary courage, and aggressiveness in the face of the enemy, he reflected great credit upon himself and upheld the highest traditions of the Naval Service and the United States Armed Forces.