Warrant Officer Stephen Peth was making his last flip at treetop degree when he regarded by way of the inexperienced Plexiglas above his head. Within the touchdown zone under, South Vietnamese troopers have been standing upright — often a very good signal.
Out of the blue, enemy rounds punched by way of the helicopter. Peth felt the influence in his proper arm and pulled most energy to climb away. With simply 30 days left in his tour, the 23-year-old warrant officer regarded down at his forearm and will see daylight by way of the opening.
“Danny, I am hit,” he yelled to his copilot.
“I am hit too, boss,” got here the reply.
His bone fragments had embedded in his copilot’s shoulder. The plane had taken 39 hits, however the Huey saved flying.
By then, he had flown over 3,000 casualties to security throughout 11 months evacuating wounded troopers from Vietnam’s most harmful battlefields. Greater than 5 many years later, the efforts of the Army DUSTOFF pilots in Vietnam are to be acknowledged with a Congressional Gold Medal.
From Piano Classes to Army Pilot
Stephen Boyer Peth was born April 18, 1946, in Seneca Falls, New York. His father, a World Battle II Coast Guard veteran and jazz drummer, operated a music store in close by Montour Falls. Peth studied piano at Ithaca School, dreaming of changing into a live performance pianist.
“My aspirations exceeded my expertise,” he mentioned.
By 1967, he was learning music schooling when scholar instructing made him rethink his path. Switching to utilized music — changing into a critical piano participant reasonably than a trainer — would value him two semesters and his scholar deferment.
He had highschool classmates preventing in Vietnam. The guilt weighed on him.
“I had a little bit of a guilt factor happening having a very good time in school whereas these guys are going over to Vietnam,” Peth mentioned.
He determined to audition for the West Level Navy Academy Band. By his father’s connections — a number of former college students had achieved fame within the percussion world — Peth was accepted with a June 1967 report date. Band members by no means deployed to Vietnam.
However after the audition, Peth had second ideas.
“I mentioned, ‘I am not coming down right here in June,’” Peth recalled. “I believe I need to fly.”
His household was shocked, however they understood his resolution, particularly his father. The Air Drive required a four-year diploma for pilot coaching. The Army did not. On March 27, 1967, he enlisted for warrant officer flight coaching.
Changing into a DUSTOFF Pilot
After primary coaching at Fort Polk, Louisiana, Peth shipped to Fort Wolters, Texas, for main helicopter flight coaching. College students discovered on the TH-55 and H-13— tiny, two-seat plane pulled from Korean Battle mothballs.
“It may barely hover in sizzling Texas climate,” Peth mentioned.
College students who failed went to infantry coaching and straight to Vietnam as floor troops.
“There was an enormous drive to finish flight college,” Peth mentioned.
Superior coaching moved to Fort Rucker, Alabama. That is the place Peth first encountered the UH-1 Huey — the plane that will outline the Vietnam Battle.
“Wow, that is large time,” he remembered pondering. The Huey may cruise at 90 knots and hit 120 if wanted. “It was a implausible plane.”
Peth ranked ninth out of 85 college students in Warrant Officer Class 68-503. On Might 7, 1968, he acquired his Army aviator wings. The highest 15 graduates have been assigned to a month of coaching at Fort Sam Houston, Texas, for DUSTOFF missions — Army medical evacuation.
DUSTOFF referred to the rotor wash which coated touchdown zones as helicopters touched down — it grew to become the decision signal for Army medevac helicopters in Vietnam. Their mission was to fly into fight underneath any situations, extract wounded troopers and ship them to discipline hospitals.
The medical coaching proved intense. Well-known surgeons taught superior trauma care. College students practiced giving one another photographs and drawing blood, carried out reside surgical procedure on goats, discovered to clear airways and deal with crucial wounds.
“I couldn’t consider they paired us as much as give one another photographs and draw blood,” Peth mentioned. “I used to be virtually frozen.”
In July 1968, he arrived in Vietnam.
Flying Into Vietnam Fight
Peth joined the 159th Medical Detachment — name signal DUSTOFF 160 — supporting the twenty fifth Infantry Division. The unit operated six Hueys with 12 pilots and 28 crew members scattered throughout brigade areas at Cu Chi, Dau Tieng and Tay Ninh.
Maj. Douglas Moore commanded the unit. Plane on standby needed to be airborne inside 5 minutes. “If somebody was wounded, we have been on the way in which, interval,” Peth mentioned.
Whereas the Tropic Lightning troopers pushed out into the jungle, the DUSTOFF pilots have been able to extract the wounded as wanted.
Missions got here by way of the tactical operations heart with primary info, casualties, coordinates, radio frequency. As helicopters approached, pilots contacted floor items to evaluate whether or not the touchdown zone was sizzling or chilly, the place the enemy was, what help was out there.
The usual strategy was fly excessive the place small-arms hearth could not attain, then dive to treetop degree. Then land with tails towards the enemy for fast departures. Peth did not study till 2023 that crew members confronted a one-in-three probability of being wounded or killed.
“My mindset was I had a job to do and I did not need to let anyone down,” he mentioned.
DUSTOFF crews evacuated everybody who wanted assist — American troopers, Allied forces, South Vietnamese troops, even enemy wounded who’d been captured.
Flying as copilot with plane commander Tony Peters close to Cu Chi, a single enemy soldier with an AK-47 emptied his journal because the helicopter handed instantly overhead. 5 bullets stitched by way of the plane — by way of the console, between crew members, into the transmission and engine. The Huey saved flying.
“My God, if this factor may take hits like that and preserve flying, what a hell of an plane,” Peth mentioned.
On one other mission with Peters, they landed in a sizzling touchdown zone when an AK-47 spherical hit the bulkhead behind Peters’ seat. A glass bottle of saline resolution saved there exploded behind Peters’ head, tilting his helmet down over his eyes. Peth instinctively grabbed the controls.
“The entire crew was laughing at how humorous Tony regarded along with his helmet pushed down over his eyes,” Peth mentioned. “Hazard and a humorousness can coexist.”
After about 4 months, Moore chosen Peth to be an plane commander. “I do not keep in mind my first mission as commander, however I do keep in mind how nervous I used to be to have all of that duty,” Peth mentioned.
The Bomb Crater Mission and Distinguished Flying Cross
One mission close to Tay Ninh examined each talent Peth possessed. A number of helicopters and jets flew fight missions in whole darkness over the sphere as an enemy anti-aircraft gun fired at something displaying lights. A pleasant patrol exterior a firebase had been attacked with heavy casualties.
The patrol had moved to a bomb crater surrounded by bushes and crammed with stumps. They requested a DUSTOFF hover within the crater whereas they lifted casualties up.
Peth descended with the lights off till treetop degree, then turned on the searchlight. The radio erupted — different plane screaming at him to show it off.
“After all, we couldn’t flip it off,” he mentioned.
The helicopter could not land, solely hover. The crew chief and medic stood on the skids calling instructions — tail left, transfer proper, ahead. As troopers raised the wounded on litters, the shifting weight pressured Peth to always regulate to keep away from crashing.
“They have been calm, cool {and professional},” Peth mentioned. “I do not know why the enemy didn’t interact us. It’s good to be fortunate. That was the hardest mission I’ve ever flown.”
That four-day interval, they evacuated 251 casualties in 51 missions, incomes him his first Distinguished Flying Cross.
They later entered the identical space repeatedly as a result of a unit was in heavy contact, Peth’s helicopter landed and picked up a number of wounded. On the way in which out, enemy hearth hit each gasoline cell. The plane was grounded for in depth repairs.
Then extra missions began coming in, they have been wanted once more. Throughout preflight on one other helicopter, Peth observed his fingers have been shaking. The crew chief for the plane wasn’t there, however his crew chief from the broken helicopter was getting it prepared.
Peth instructed him he did not need to fly. The crew chief’s response: “Mr. Peth, in case you are going again to that LZ then I am going, too.”
“As quickly because the engine began and the blades have been spinning, my fingers stopped shaking,” Peth mentioned. “I’ll always remember the bravery and dedication to the mission of that crew chief.”
On one other event, Peth repeatedly flew right into a mortar-targeted touchdown zone to extract casualties, timing his approaches between incoming rounds. He earned a second Distinguished Flying Cross.
Shot By the Arm and Silver Star
With roughly 30 days left in nation, Peth flew to evacuate South Vietnamese casualties close to “Dodge Metropolis” — an space recognized for heavy enemy exercise. Floor forces reported they have been not taking hearth.
As he descended, the sphere lit up with small arms hearth. He climbed to security and realized he’d been hit. His copilot, Denny Derber, was additionally hit however took the controls.
“About one-and-a-half inches from my elbow, I may see daylight by way of my arm,” Peth mentioned.
The plane had taken 39 hits however flew them to the hospital. When Peth walked in, he observed he was limping — one other bullet by way of his boot.
Army surgeons inserted a pin in his arm. Whereas Peth was nonetheless drugged after surgical procedure, Maj. Moore arrived with a contemporary uniform and instructed him to dress.
“Subsequent factor I do know, I am on the flight line in entrance of a formation,” Peth mentioned.
Gen. Creighton Abrams pinned medals on each males. Moore acquired the Distinguished Service Cross. Peth acquired the Silver Star for a earlier mission.
Abrams regarded on the forged and requested if Peth earned the medal on the mission the place he was wounded.
“I mentioned ‘no sir, this was months in the past,’” Peth recalled. “Abrams mentioned, ‘The place do we discover males like this?’”
His Vietnam decorations embrace the Silver Star, two Distinguished Flying Crosses, two Air Medals, Bronze Star, Purple Coronary heart and quite a few different decorations.
Returning House and Second Tour in Vietnam
After recovering, Peth grew to become a flight teacher at Fort Rucker. He was given a alternative to remain within the Army and was even provided an official fee as a discipline artillery officer.
“My spouse and I talked it over, I made a decision to remain within the Army, realizing I could also be again in Vietnam,” he mentioned.
He returned in 1972 for a second tour, this time with the 57th Assault Helicopter Firm. The unit had one platoon of Cobra gunships and two platoons of Huey gunships. Peth served as platoon chief with 12 plane, supporting primarily South Vietnamese forces.
By 1972, nearly no American tactical items remained on the bottom. The conflict had modified.
“I keep in mind pondering on my first tour, there have been U.S. troops in all places, somebody would get me if I bought shot down,” Peth mentioned. “By 1972, if I bought shot down, I used to be alone.”
His platoon rotated supporting Special Forces and their Montagnard fighters on cross-border operations, flying “Hook and Ladder” missions the place troops rappelled from helicopters into the jungle and have been extracted by way of rope ladders.
All through his time in Vietnam, Peth collected 3,579 hours of flight time — 1,639 in fight throughout each excursions.
He remained within the Army for 2 extra many years, serving at Fort Bragg, Fort Wainwright and different posts earlier than being despatched to the Pentagon. From 1990 to 1992, he labored for the Strategic Protection Initiative Group, growing the “Household of Radars” idea for the U.S. Ballistic Missile Protection System. He retired as a lieutenant colonel in 1992.
He labored at Raytheon till 2004, incomes the Missile Protection Company’s Expertise Pioneer Award in 2006 for his radar work.
That very same 12 months, pictures of wounded troopers from Iraq and Afghanistan drew him to Walter Reed. Residing in Nokesville, Virginia, along with his spouse Mary, Peth could not cease excited about the amputees.
“Possibly I’ve one thing I can supply these folks,” he mentioned.
He volunteered with the Crimson Cross, beginning on a hospital ward earlier than transferring to the Navy Superior Coaching Heart — the amputee facility — in 2008. When Walter Reed consolidated with the Nationwide Naval Medical Heart in Bethesda, Maryland, in 2011, Peth continued his work and was requested to steer volunteer recruitment.
Beneath his management, this system grew from a handful to virtually 80 volunteers. He screens potential volunteers, manages schedules and supervises these working in occupational remedy, bodily remedy, assistive expertise, prosthetics and adaptive sports activities applications.
“Whenever you’re an outdated man and also you’re not getting a paycheck and but you may nonetheless do one thing that folks worth, that basically makes me blissful,” Peth mentioned.
For his volunteer work, Peth earned a President’s Lifetime Achievement Award.
Congressional Gold Medal for DUSTOFF Crews
In April 2024, the DUSTOFF Affiliation requested Peth to assist foyer Congress for the Congressional Gold Medal for Vietnam-era DUSTOFF crews. The trouble had failed for eight years.
Peth joined different veterans strolling the halls of Congress in June 2024. “We went from 100 sponsors to 320,” he mentioned.
President Joe Biden signed it into legislation Sept. 24, 2024. A single gold medal will probably be positioned within the Army Medical Division Museum in San Antonio, recognizing all DUSTOFF pilots, copilots, crew chiefs and medics who served in Vietnam.
When Peth returned from Vietnam in 1969 sporting his decorations and a forged on his arm at a household reunion, not one relative requested about his service or what occurred to his arm. He assumed nobody cared. Forty years handed earlier than somebody thanked him.
When requested who he’ll assume when the medal is introduced, his ideas flip first to those that did not come dwelling — Lt. Douglas MacNeil, his roommate at flight college whose title is on the memorial wall in San Antonio.
He’ll additionally consider Moore, his commander who continues to be alive. Moore mentored him and nominated him for the DUSTOFF Corridor of Fame. Throughout one mission, Moore took a bullet by way of his helmet. Peth grabbed the controls and saved them.
“He wrote in his ebook that I saved his life,” Peth mentioned. “I will be excited about him and what all he did for me.”
The DUSTOFF Legacy
DUSTOFF pilots evacuated greater than 300,000 American casualties throughout the Vietnam Battle. Historians estimate that almost 700,000 Allied and civilian casualties have been additionally saved by the pilots.
“You did not simply save one life,” Peth mentioned. “He goes dwelling and has a household. That is vital.”
He desires folks to know what DUSTOFF crews did. “There are folks from common society who joined the navy and put their lives on the road to rescue others,” he mentioned. “Each single time you bought within the cockpit, that might be the one.”
Upon reflecting on his time with the 159th, he mentioned: “I’ve had a very good profession, however that 11 months in Vietnam was essentially the most satisfying factor I’ve ever performed.”
At 78, he continues volunteering at Walter Reed, serving to wounded veterans from a brand new technology. His time in Vietnam, in depth navy profession, protection work, and his efforts serving to different veterans exemplify the braveness and dedication to obligation that DUSTOFF pilots repeatedly confirmed in Vietnam. Their efforts throughout the conflict are to lastly be acknowledged by the nation with a Congressional Gold Medal that’s lengthy overdue.
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