Michael Joseph Novosel Sr.

Returning under fire to rescue twenty-nine wounded soldiers.

Michael Joseph Novosel Sr. earned the Medal of Honor as a U.S. Army medical evacuation pilot in Vietnam. His career began in World War II, continued through Air Force and Reserve service, and ended with his retirement as Chief Warrant Officer 4.

Born on 3 September 1922 in Etna, Pennsylvania, Novosel enlisted in the Army Air Corps in February 1941. After flight training and work as an instructor, he flew four B-29 Superfortress combat missions in the Pacific in 1945, although he later recalled approximately half a dozen. He also flew in the formation over the USS Missouri during Japan's surrender and delivered supplies to former Allied prisoners of war. He subsequently commanded the 99th Bombardment Squadron.

Novosel transferred to the newly established Air Force in 1947. Following a reduction in force in 1950, he returned to active duty during the Korean War, attending Air Command and Staff School at Maxwell Air Force Base without seeing combat. He later served in the Air Force Reserve, reaching lieutenant colonel. In 1964, he gave up that commission to join the Army as a warrant officer and helicopter pilot. He flew medical evacuation missions supporting Special Forces during Operation Power Pack in the Dominican Republic in 1965 before arriving in Vietnam in January 1966 with the 283rd Medical Detachment.

He returned to Vietnam for a second tour with the 82nd Medical Detachment from March 1969 to March 1970. On 2 October 1969, in Kien Tuong Province, he repeatedly entered a heavily defended enemy area without armed escort to recover wounded South Vietnamese soldiers. Despite enemy fire, damage to his helicopter and his own wounds, Novosel and his crew made fifteen hazardous extractions and saved twenty-nine soldiers.

Early in 1970, he also rescued his son, Michael Novosel Jr., after the younger aviator's helicopter was brought down. President Richard Nixon presented Novosel Sr. with the Medal of Honor on 15 June 1971.

After Vietnam, Novosel served as an aircraft pilot with the Golden Knights, taught at the Warrant Officer Career College and completed a one-year posting as a 2nd Infantry Division safety officer in South Korea beginning in 1976. He continued Army aviation safety work until retiring in the mid-1980s. He died on 2 April 2006 and is buried at Arlington National Cemetery.

Medal of Honor citation

For conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity in action at the risk of his life above and beyond the call of duty. CWO Novosel, 82d Medical Detachment, distinguished himself while serving as commander of a medical evacuation helicopter. He unhesitatingly maneuvered his helicopter into a heavily fortified and defended enemy training area where a group of wounded Vietnamese soldiers were pinned down by a large enemy force. Flying without gunship or other cover and exposed to intense machine-gun fire, CWO Novosel was able to locate and rescue a wounded soldier. Since all communications with the beleaguered troops had been lost, he repeatedly circled the battle area, flying at low level under continuous heavy fire, to attract the attention of the scattered friendly troops. This display of courage visibly raised their morale, as they recognized this as a signal to assemble for evacuation. On six occasions he and his crew were forced out of the battle area by the intense enemy fire, only to circle and return from another direction to land and extract additional troops. Near the end of the mission, a wounded soldier was spotted close to an enemy bunker. Fully realizing that he would attract a hail of enemy fire, CWO Novosel nevertheless attempted the extraction by hovering the helicopter backward. As the man was pulled on board, enemy automatic weapons opened fire at close-range, damaged the aircraft and wounded CWO Novosel. He momentarily lost control of the aircraft, but quickly recovered and departed under the withering enemy fire. In all 15 extremely hazardous extractions were performed in order to remove wounded personnel. As a direct result of his selfless conduct, the lives of 29 soldiers were saved. The extraordinary heroism displayed by CWO Novosel was an inspiration to his comrades in arms and reflect great credit on him, his unit, and the U.S. Army.