Criteria
The Valorous Unit Award is to be awarded to units of the Armed Forces of the United States for extraordinary heroism in action against an armed enemy of the United States while engaged in military operations involving conflict with an opposing foreign force or while serving with friendly foreign forces engaged in an armed conflict against an opposing armed force in which the United States is not a belligerent part for actions occurring on or after 3 August 1963. The Valorous Unit Award requires a lesser degree of gallantry, determination, and esprit de corps than that required for the Presidential Unit Citation. Nevertheless, the unit must have performed with marked distinction under difficult and hazardous conditions in accomplishing its mission so as to set it apart from the other units participating in the same conflict. The degree of heroism required is the same as that which would warrant award of the Silver Star to an individual. Extended periods of combat duty or participation in a large number of operational missions, either ground or air, is not sufficient. This award will normally be earned by units that have participated in single or successive actions covering relatively brief time spans. It is not reasonable to presume that entire units can sustain Silver Star performance for extended time periods under the most unusual circumstances. Only on rare occasions will a unit larger than a battalion qualify for this award.
A NOTABLE RECIPIENT:of the Valorus Unit Award 3rd Platoon A Troop 2/17th Cavalry 1st Brigade 101st Airborne Vietnamm Recon Scouts mounted their Machine gun jeeps and rushed to the aid of the engineers of the 101st who were under fire from a comapny of North Vietnamesee about 16 men under the command of Lt Seth Hudgins (Retired Colonel West Point)dismaounted the jeeps and with 4 machine guns engaged in a battle with the enemy. Outnumbered 50 to 1 they nevertheless fought for 5 hours before 1st and 2nd Platoon of about 40 men reinforced them. 4 hours later the 502nd and 327th infantry began arriving by chopper to re-inforce them . Colonel David Hackworth 1st/327th infantry received a silver star and Distinguished Service Cross from this battle. Pfc Philben A Troop Recon Scout Machinegunner (Virtual Wall) was killed after destroying 7 or 8 of the enemy who also had automatic weapons AK-47s. Lt Gardner of the infantry was kllled in this battle and awarded the Medal of Honor both on February 7th 1966 . A Troop was involved in the rescue of pilots who were shot down in the Medivac chopper in the middle of the Tua Hoa rice feilds . Completely bare to hostile fire they helped them to safety just a minute or so before the North Vietnamese hit the chopper with Rocket Fired Grenades (RPGs) The 1st 327th & 502nd infantry companies along with A Troop Recon were all decorated for extraordinary Heroism during this battle which began Operation Harrison Spring 1966 submitted by John Harris Recon Scout
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