In the News

LITTLE ROCK (KATV) — Arkansas Congressman French Hill awarded four veterans with the Silver Star in Little Rock Monday, the 45th anniversary of their heroic actions in Vietnam.

On April 18, 1972, Robert J. Monette, John F. Deslouriers, Leonard B. Shearer, and Robert A. Frank flew their helicopter into enemy territory to rescue seven U.S. crew members whose C-130 aircraft went down.

Frank, the mission commander, told Channel 7 News he remembers watching the burning aircraft crash into a field.

"As we approached the aircraft, we didn't think anyone had survived it...and as we got closer we heard a directional locator beacon. So we thought, well maybe somebody survived it. We hovered up close to the aircraft. The pilot and another fella and they had a wounded Vietnamese crewman. Three of them came up and we said how many people are we looking for? He said we had a crew of seven. So the crew of seven - we said, 'Quick, get those guys on.' That’s when Specialist Shearer, the crew chief, went into the aircraft and pulled some more people out."

Maumelle native and unit commander, Jack Shields, worked with Rep. Hill and the Department of Defense to have the four men awarded the Silver Star medals.

The Silver Star is the U.S. Military's third highest decoration for bravery in combat.