Died in South Vietnam
Captain USMC
Unit HMM-164
Pilot HMM CH-46(USMC)
Father Paul Donald Looney (1912-2000)
Mother Winifred Mary Doneilo
Sisters Joyce & Anne(1944-2007)
Silver Star
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 Paul T. Looney (MCSN: 0-89775), United States Marine Corps, for conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity in action while serving as a Helicopter Aircraft Commander with Marine Medium Helicopter Squadron ONE HUNDRED SIXTY-FOUR (HMM-164), FIRST Marine Aircraft Wing, in the Republic of Vietnam on 10 May 1967, during a night emergency reconnaissance patrol extraction. Upon learning that a patrol was under heavy attack and pinned down by deadly semi-automatic and automatic weapons fire and that another pilot had been unable to rescue the patrol because of severe damage to his aircraft, Captain Looney immediately launched into the night. Arriving over the area, he made radio contact with the UH-1E's overhead and with the surviving members of the patrol. He confirmed the pickup zone to be a bomb crater and commenced his approach. He let down to tree-top level a few hundred meters from the zone and made a low-level, high-speed approach. Just as he brought the aircraft to a hover the air was instantly filled with tracers and the cockpit with broken Plexiglas and metal fragments. Two of these rounds struck and mortally wounded him. Knowing that he was wounded badly, he informed his co-pilot that he was hit and directed him to take control. He then struggled from his seat and crawled into the cabin section, knowing that there was nothing more he could do to save the aircraft and fearful his unconscious body might block the controls. His outstanding courage, superb airmanship and valiant devotion to duty in the face of overwhelming odds reflected the highest credit upon Captain Looney, the Marine Corps, and the United States Naval Service. He gallantly gave his life for his country.
Action Date: 10-May-67
Service: Marine Corps
Rank: Captain
Company: Marine Medium Helicopter Squadron 164 (HMM-164)
Division: 1st Marine Aircraft Wing
http://projects.militarytimes.com/citations-medals-awards/recipient.php?recipientid=23657
Captain USMC
Unit HMM-164
Pilot HMM CH-46(USMC)
Father Paul Donald Looney (1912-2000)
Mother Winifred Mary Doneilo
Sisters Joyce & Anne(1944-2007)
Silver Star
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 Paul T. Looney (MCSN: 0-89775), United States Marine Corps, for conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity in action while serving as a Helicopter Aircraft Commander with Marine Medium Helicopter Squadron ONE HUNDRED SIXTY-FOUR (HMM-164), FIRST Marine Aircraft Wing, in the Republic of Vietnam on 10 May 1967, during a night emergency reconnaissance patrol extraction. Upon learning that a patrol was under heavy attack and pinned down by deadly semi-automatic and automatic weapons fire and that another pilot had been unable to rescue the patrol because of severe damage to his aircraft, Captain Looney immediately launched into the night. Arriving over the area, he made radio contact with the UH-1E's overhead and with the surviving members of the patrol. He confirmed the pickup zone to be a bomb crater and commenced his approach. He let down to tree-top level a few hundred meters from the zone and made a low-level, high-speed approach. Just as he brought the aircraft to a hover the air was instantly filled with tracers and the cockpit with broken Plexiglas and metal fragments. Two of these rounds struck and mortally wounded him. Knowing that he was wounded badly, he informed his co-pilot that he was hit and directed him to take control. He then struggled from his seat and crawled into the cabin section, knowing that there was nothing more he could do to save the aircraft and fearful his unconscious body might block the controls. His outstanding courage, superb airmanship and valiant devotion to duty in the face of overwhelming odds reflected the highest credit upon Captain Looney, the Marine Corps, and the United States Naval Service. He gallantly gave his life for his country.
Action Date: 10-May-67
Service: Marine Corps
Rank: Captain
Company: Marine Medium Helicopter Squadron 164 (HMM-164)
Division: 1st Marine Aircraft Wing
http://projects.militarytimes.com/citations-medals-awards/recipient.php?recipientid=23657
Died in South Vietnam
Captain USMC
Unit HMM-164
Pilot HMM CH-46(USMC)
Father Paul Donald Looney (1912-2000)
Mother Winifred Mary Doneilo
Sisters Joyce & Anne(1944-2007)
Silver Star
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 Paul T. Looney (MCSN: 0-89775), United States Marine Corps, for conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity in action while serving as a Helicopter Aircraft Commander with Marine Medium Helicopter Squadron ONE HUNDRED SIXTY-FOUR (HMM-164), FIRST Marine Aircraft Wing, in the Republic of Vietnam on 10 May 1967, during a night emergency reconnaissance patrol extraction. Upon learning that a patrol was under heavy attack and pinned down by deadly semi-automatic and automatic weapons fire and that another pilot had been unable to rescue the patrol because of severe damage to his aircraft, Captain Looney immediately launched into the night. Arriving over the area, he made radio contact with the UH-1E's overhead and with the surviving members of the patrol. He confirmed the pickup zone to be a bomb crater and commenced his approach. He let down to tree-top level a few hundred meters from the zone and made a low-level, high-speed approach. Just as he brought the aircraft to a hover the air was instantly filled with tracers and the cockpit with broken Plexiglas and metal fragments. Two of these rounds struck and mortally wounded him. Knowing that he was wounded badly, he informed his co-pilot that he was hit and directed him to take control. He then struggled from his seat and crawled into the cabin section, knowing that there was nothing more he could do to save the aircraft and fearful his unconscious body might block the controls. His outstanding courage, superb airmanship and valiant devotion to duty in the face of overwhelming odds reflected the highest credit upon Captain Looney, the Marine Corps, and the United States Naval Service. He gallantly gave his life for his country.
Action Date: 10-May-67
Service: Marine Corps
Rank: Captain
Company: Marine Medium Helicopter Squadron 164 (HMM-164)
Division: 1st Marine Aircraft Wing
http://projects.militarytimes.com/citations-medals-awards/recipient.php?recipientid=23657
Captain USMC
Unit HMM-164
Pilot HMM CH-46(USMC)
Father Paul Donald Looney (1912-2000)
Mother Winifred Mary Doneilo
Sisters Joyce & Anne(1944-2007)
Silver Star
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 Paul T. Looney (MCSN: 0-89775), United States Marine Corps, for conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity in action while serving as a Helicopter Aircraft Commander with Marine Medium Helicopter Squadron ONE HUNDRED SIXTY-FOUR (HMM-164), FIRST Marine Aircraft Wing, in the Republic of Vietnam on 10 May 1967, during a night emergency reconnaissance patrol extraction. Upon learning that a patrol was under heavy attack and pinned down by deadly semi-automatic and automatic weapons fire and that another pilot had been unable to rescue the patrol because of severe damage to his aircraft, Captain Looney immediately launched into the night. Arriving over the area, he made radio contact with the UH-1E's overhead and with the surviving members of the patrol. He confirmed the pickup zone to be a bomb crater and commenced his approach. He let down to tree-top level a few hundred meters from the zone and made a low-level, high-speed approach. Just as he brought the aircraft to a hover the air was instantly filled with tracers and the cockpit with broken Plexiglas and metal fragments. Two of these rounds struck and mortally wounded him. Knowing that he was wounded badly, he informed his co-pilot that he was hit and directed him to take control. He then struggled from his seat and crawled into the cabin section, knowing that there was nothing more he could do to save the aircraft and fearful his unconscious body might block the controls. His outstanding courage, superb airmanship and valiant devotion to duty in the face of overwhelming odds reflected the highest credit upon Captain Looney, the Marine Corps, and the United States Naval Service. He gallantly gave his life for his country.
Action Date: 10-May-67
Service: Marine Corps
Rank: Captain
Company: Marine Medium Helicopter Squadron 164 (HMM-164)
Division: 1st Marine Aircraft Wing
http://projects.militarytimes.com/citations-medals-awards/recipient.php?recipientid=23657
