Captain, USMC
KIA
Captain Emerson was posthumously awarded the Silver Star. His name is located on the Wall at Panel 38W, Line 16.
Silver Star Citation
Awarded for actions during the Vietnam War
The President of the United States of America takes pride in presenting the Silver Star (Posthumously) to Captain William Emerson (MCSN: 0-93908), United States Marine Corps, for conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity in action while serving as a Pilot with Marine Medium Helicopter Squadron TWO HUNDRED SIXTY-FIVE (HMM-265), Marine Aircraft Group THIRTY-SIX (MAG-36), FIRST Marine Aircraft Wing, in connection with operations against the enemy in the Republic of Vietnam. On the morning of 4 November 1968, Captain Emerson launched as Section Leader of a flight of two CH-46 transport helicopters assigned the emergency extraction of a Marine reconnaissance team that had captured an enemy soldier and was being pursued by a large North Vietnamese Army force southwest of DaNang. Arriving over the designated area, he was requested to attempt a hoist extraction of the prisoner, and as he entered the zone and commenced a hover, his aircraft came under a heavy volume of hostile automatic weapons fire, forcing him to abort the extractions attempt. After refueling and rearming at An Hoa, Captain Emerson returned to the hazardous area and, observing a potential landing zone, guided the ground unit to the designated position while calmly providing the patrol with words of encouragement. When the Marines arrived at the site, they informed Captain Emerson that the zone was unsuitable for landing. Realizing the seriousness of the situation, he unhesitatingly elected to attempt the extraction and, skillfully maneuvering his aircraft in an evasive approach to avoid detection by the enemy, fearlessly entered the area and hovered with the loading ramp resting on an abandoned hostile bunker. As the patrol embarked, the aircraft came under intense enemy automatic weapons fire supporting an assault by a large North Vietnamese Army force. Disregarding his own safety, Captain Emerson steadfastly maintained his dangerously exposed position while directing armed helicopters in attacking the advancing enemy, forcing them to withdraw. When the hostile force delivered anti-tank rocket fire at his aircraft, he ignored the rounds impacting nearby and calmly waited until all the team members were on board, and then rapidly departed the hazardous area. By his courage, superior aeronautical ability and unwavering devotion to duty, Captain Emerson inspired all who observed him and upheld the highest traditions of the Marine Corps and of the United States Naval Service.
Action Date: 4-Nov-68
Service: Marine Corps
Rank: Captain
Company: Marine Medium Helicopter Squadron 265 (HMM-265)
Division: 1st Marine Aircraft Wing
KIA
Captain Emerson was posthumously awarded the Silver Star. His name is located on the Wall at Panel 38W, Line 16.
Silver Star Citation
Awarded for actions during the Vietnam War
The President of the United States of America takes pride in presenting the Silver Star (Posthumously) to Captain William Emerson (MCSN: 0-93908), United States Marine Corps, for conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity in action while serving as a Pilot with Marine Medium Helicopter Squadron TWO HUNDRED SIXTY-FIVE (HMM-265), Marine Aircraft Group THIRTY-SIX (MAG-36), FIRST Marine Aircraft Wing, in connection with operations against the enemy in the Republic of Vietnam. On the morning of 4 November 1968, Captain Emerson launched as Section Leader of a flight of two CH-46 transport helicopters assigned the emergency extraction of a Marine reconnaissance team that had captured an enemy soldier and was being pursued by a large North Vietnamese Army force southwest of DaNang. Arriving over the designated area, he was requested to attempt a hoist extraction of the prisoner, and as he entered the zone and commenced a hover, his aircraft came under a heavy volume of hostile automatic weapons fire, forcing him to abort the extractions attempt. After refueling and rearming at An Hoa, Captain Emerson returned to the hazardous area and, observing a potential landing zone, guided the ground unit to the designated position while calmly providing the patrol with words of encouragement. When the Marines arrived at the site, they informed Captain Emerson that the zone was unsuitable for landing. Realizing the seriousness of the situation, he unhesitatingly elected to attempt the extraction and, skillfully maneuvering his aircraft in an evasive approach to avoid detection by the enemy, fearlessly entered the area and hovered with the loading ramp resting on an abandoned hostile bunker. As the patrol embarked, the aircraft came under intense enemy automatic weapons fire supporting an assault by a large North Vietnamese Army force. Disregarding his own safety, Captain Emerson steadfastly maintained his dangerously exposed position while directing armed helicopters in attacking the advancing enemy, forcing them to withdraw. When the hostile force delivered anti-tank rocket fire at his aircraft, he ignored the rounds impacting nearby and calmly waited until all the team members were on board, and then rapidly departed the hazardous area. By his courage, superior aeronautical ability and unwavering devotion to duty, Captain Emerson inspired all who observed him and upheld the highest traditions of the Marine Corps and of the United States Naval Service.
Action Date: 4-Nov-68
Service: Marine Corps
Rank: Captain
Company: Marine Medium Helicopter Squadron 265 (HMM-265)
Division: 1st Marine Aircraft Wing
Captain, USMC
KIA
Captain Emerson was posthumously awarded the Silver Star. His name is located on the Wall at Panel 38W, Line 16.
Silver Star Citation
Awarded for actions during the Vietnam War
The President of the United States of America takes pride in presenting the Silver Star (Posthumously) to Captain William Emerson (MCSN: 0-93908), United States Marine Corps, for conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity in action while serving as a Pilot with Marine Medium Helicopter Squadron TWO HUNDRED SIXTY-FIVE (HMM-265), Marine Aircraft Group THIRTY-SIX (MAG-36), FIRST Marine Aircraft Wing, in connection with operations against the enemy in the Republic of Vietnam. On the morning of 4 November 1968, Captain Emerson launched as Section Leader of a flight of two CH-46 transport helicopters assigned the emergency extraction of a Marine reconnaissance team that had captured an enemy soldier and was being pursued by a large North Vietnamese Army force southwest of DaNang. Arriving over the designated area, he was requested to attempt a hoist extraction of the prisoner, and as he entered the zone and commenced a hover, his aircraft came under a heavy volume of hostile automatic weapons fire, forcing him to abort the extractions attempt. After refueling and rearming at An Hoa, Captain Emerson returned to the hazardous area and, observing a potential landing zone, guided the ground unit to the designated position while calmly providing the patrol with words of encouragement. When the Marines arrived at the site, they informed Captain Emerson that the zone was unsuitable for landing. Realizing the seriousness of the situation, he unhesitatingly elected to attempt the extraction and, skillfully maneuvering his aircraft in an evasive approach to avoid detection by the enemy, fearlessly entered the area and hovered with the loading ramp resting on an abandoned hostile bunker. As the patrol embarked, the aircraft came under intense enemy automatic weapons fire supporting an assault by a large North Vietnamese Army force. Disregarding his own safety, Captain Emerson steadfastly maintained his dangerously exposed position while directing armed helicopters in attacking the advancing enemy, forcing them to withdraw. When the hostile force delivered anti-tank rocket fire at his aircraft, he ignored the rounds impacting nearby and calmly waited until all the team members were on board, and then rapidly departed the hazardous area. By his courage, superior aeronautical ability and unwavering devotion to duty, Captain Emerson inspired all who observed him and upheld the highest traditions of the Marine Corps and of the United States Naval Service.
Action Date: 4-Nov-68
Service: Marine Corps
Rank: Captain
Company: Marine Medium Helicopter Squadron 265 (HMM-265)
Division: 1st Marine Aircraft Wing
KIA
Captain Emerson was posthumously awarded the Silver Star. His name is located on the Wall at Panel 38W, Line 16.
Silver Star Citation
Awarded for actions during the Vietnam War
The President of the United States of America takes pride in presenting the Silver Star (Posthumously) to Captain William Emerson (MCSN: 0-93908), United States Marine Corps, for conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity in action while serving as a Pilot with Marine Medium Helicopter Squadron TWO HUNDRED SIXTY-FIVE (HMM-265), Marine Aircraft Group THIRTY-SIX (MAG-36), FIRST Marine Aircraft Wing, in connection with operations against the enemy in the Republic of Vietnam. On the morning of 4 November 1968, Captain Emerson launched as Section Leader of a flight of two CH-46 transport helicopters assigned the emergency extraction of a Marine reconnaissance team that had captured an enemy soldier and was being pursued by a large North Vietnamese Army force southwest of DaNang. Arriving over the designated area, he was requested to attempt a hoist extraction of the prisoner, and as he entered the zone and commenced a hover, his aircraft came under a heavy volume of hostile automatic weapons fire, forcing him to abort the extractions attempt. After refueling and rearming at An Hoa, Captain Emerson returned to the hazardous area and, observing a potential landing zone, guided the ground unit to the designated position while calmly providing the patrol with words of encouragement. When the Marines arrived at the site, they informed Captain Emerson that the zone was unsuitable for landing. Realizing the seriousness of the situation, he unhesitatingly elected to attempt the extraction and, skillfully maneuvering his aircraft in an evasive approach to avoid detection by the enemy, fearlessly entered the area and hovered with the loading ramp resting on an abandoned hostile bunker. As the patrol embarked, the aircraft came under intense enemy automatic weapons fire supporting an assault by a large North Vietnamese Army force. Disregarding his own safety, Captain Emerson steadfastly maintained his dangerously exposed position while directing armed helicopters in attacking the advancing enemy, forcing them to withdraw. When the hostile force delivered anti-tank rocket fire at his aircraft, he ignored the rounds impacting nearby and calmly waited until all the team members were on board, and then rapidly departed the hazardous area. By his courage, superior aeronautical ability and unwavering devotion to duty, Captain Emerson inspired all who observed him and upheld the highest traditions of the Marine Corps and of the United States Naval Service.
Action Date: 4-Nov-68
Service: Marine Corps
Rank: Captain
Company: Marine Medium Helicopter Squadron 265 (HMM-265)
Division: 1st Marine Aircraft Wing
