Fort Rucker, the Army’s aviation publish situated in Dale County, Alabama, is about to be renamed Fort Novosel on Monday, based on the service. The brand new identify honors Chief Warrant Officer 4 Michael Novosel Sr., a Medal of Honor recipient who flew unguarded medical evacuation missions into closely fortified enemy territory in Vietnam 15 instances, saving the lives of 29 males.
Between two excursions in Vietnam, Novosel is credited with flying 2,543 extraction missions, rescuing greater than 5,500 troops in one of the harmful jobs through the conflict — medevac pilot — a place that, based on the Army, left one-third of those that accepted the task as casualties themselves.
The brand new designation of the Army publish is a part of the Pentagon-wide push to rename bases that beforehand honored the Confederacy. Fort Rucker was named for Accomplice officer Edmund Rucker, as soon as a cavalry commander below Nathan Bedford Forrest. Forrest went on to assist discovered the Klu Klux Klan after the Civil Warfare.
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The publish is certainly one of 9 Army installations being renamed below the Protection Division’s Naming Fee.
As detailed within the Naming Fee’s last report, Rucker served as a conscription officer for the Confederacy and “compelled Individuals who needed no half within the battle to take up arms towards the USA or danger harsh retribution.”
Service leaders hailed Novosel because the “excellent selection” for a brand new identify.
“Chief Warrant Officer 4 Michael J. Novosel Sr. epitomizes what an Army aviation soldier ought to be,” mentioned Maj. Gen. Michael C. McCurry, the publish’s commanding basic. “His legacy of braveness below hearth in help of troopers on the bottom is what we practice for and anticipate of our troopers.
“It’s an honor for the Dwelling of Army aviation to bear his identify,” he added.
In 1941, Novosel joined the army at 18, however there was an issue. At 5’3″, he was one-eighth inch too quick to affix the service. He handed all the different flight necessities, based on the Army, and got here to face the flight surgeon, a last and doubtlessly career-ending authority.
“The physician advised him to face, appeared him over and requested his age,” an Army press launch learn. “After his reply of 18, the physician decided that will reverberate by way of Army aviation for many years to return, and responded with, ‘Will you promise me you may develop one other eighth of an inch?’ and signed off on the paperwork after an affirmative response.”
Novosel served within the Pacific Theater of World Warfare II, the place he not solely flew fight missions as a B-29 plane commander, but in addition realized the right way to drive a automotive for the primary time — a Jeep, the Army mentioned. Novosel served in fight through the Korean Warfare, as properly.
On the daybreak of the Vietnam Warfare, Novosel was a 42-year-old lieutenant colonel within the Air Drive Reserve. When the conflict kicked off, he volunteered for energetic responsibility, resigned his fee and joined the Army as a helicopter pilot.
It was right here that Novosel’s legend could be cemented in aviation legend for many years to return.
On Oct. 2, 1969, Novosel was notified of a unit of pinned-down South Vietnamese troopers in Kien Tuong Province. Due to the urgency of the mission, Novosel forwent his gunship accompaniment, opting to fly his frivolously armored medevac helicopter into heavy enemy hearth.
He repeatedly uncovered his plane to attract enemy hearth away from the pinned troops, with rounds peppering his helicopter, disabling pace gauges, and hitting his rotors and radios.
“Different issues additionally exacerbated the scenario: For the reason that troops on the bottom didn’t converse English and had been unable to speak by radio,” a press launch mentioned, “Novosel needed to fly low and circle as he looked for them by eye, additional exposing himself to fireside.”
Novosel was wounded himself through the operation.
On half a dozen events, enemy hearth precipitated Novosel to withdraw. Every time, he returned to the battlefield to avoid wasting these on the bottom.
“Eighteen hours had handed since he began the day,” the Army mentioned. “Novosel was 47 years outdated. His plane was broken and his physique was battered, however he had saved 29 males.”
After receiving the Medal of Honor in 1971, Novosel continued to serve till 1984. He was inducted into the Army Aviation Corridor of Fame in 1975 and, earlier than the flip of the millennium, he revealed an autobiography “Dustoff: The Memoir of an Army Aviator.”
Novosel died in April 2006 and was buried at Arlington Nationwide Cemetery with full honors.
— Drew F. Lawrence may be reached at drew.lawrence@army.com. Observe him on Twitter @df_lawrence.
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