The Bravery of Captain Hilliard A. Wilbanks

Captain Hilliard A. Wilbanks, serving as a forward air controller, piloted an unarmed light aircraft on a visual reconnaissance mission ahead of a South Vietnamese Army Ranger Battalion. During his flight, he detected a well-concealed and numerically superior Viet Cong force preparing to ambush the advancing rangers. Realizing their position was compromised, the enemy opened fire on Capt. Wilbanks' aircraft with intense firepower and launched an assault on the exposed forward elements of the rangers, pinning them down.

Recognizing that close air support would not arrive in time to prevent the rangers' annihilation, Capt. Wilbanks made the selfless decision to assume a close-support role. Despite the vulnerabilities of his unarmed and unarmored reconnaissance plane, he flew at treetop level through heavy enemy fire, firing a rifle out of the side window to inflict casualties on the advancing enemy.

Undeterred by intensifying antiaircraft fire, Capt. Wilbanks made repeated low passes to divert enemy attention and shield the rangers. His bold and self-sacrificing actions disrupted the enemy's advance, allowing the rangers to retreat to safety. During his final courageous pass, Capt. Wilbanks was mortally wounded, and his bullet-riddled aircraft crashed between the opposing forces.

Captain Wilbanks' extraordinary heroism and sacrifice saved countless friendly lives. For his actions, he was posthumously awarded the Medal of Honor.