Air Command and Staff College recognizes Medal of Honor recipient

During a ceremony at Air Command and Staff College Wednesday to dedicate a bronze bust of his father, retired Army Chief Warrant Officer 4 Michael Novosel Jr. talked about his dad, CW4 Michael Novosel Sr. The Medal of Honor was bestowed upon CW4 Novosel Sr. in Oct. 1969 for saving the lives of 29 soldiers during an engagement of the Vietnam War. (U.S. Air Force photo/Bennett Rock)

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Air Command and Staff College recognizes Medal of Honor recipient

Published Oct. 23, 2009
By Carl Bergquist
Air University Public Affairs

MAXWELL AIR FORCE BASE, Ala. -- Medal of Honor recipient was honored at Spaatz Center's Air Command and Staff College Wednesday when his son and daughter presented ACSC with a bronze bust of him.

The MOH recipient was Chief Warrant Officer 4 Michael Novosel Sr., and the presentation was made by retired Chief Warrant Officer 4 Michael Novosel Jr. and Patricia Clevinger. CW4 Novosel Sr. was awarded the Medal of Honor for saving the lives of 29 Army members during the Vietnam War. He also frequently attended the college's Gathering of Eagles programs as an Eagle.

"What a special day this is for ACSC to be able to pay tribute to a real patriot - Michael J. Novosel," said Col. David Solomon, ACSC vice commandant. "He loved to fly and to serve his country and did both in three wars."

The colonel said CW4 Novosel Sr. served in World War II, Korea and Vietnam, and in addition to his MOH, also received three Distinguished Flying Crosses and a Purple Heart. He said CW4 Novosel Sr. retired from the Air Force as a lieutenant colonel but returned to active duty as an Army warrant officer because of his dedication to service.

"An interesting story involves CW4 Novosel Sr. extracting his son Michael Jr. after his aircraft crashed during the Vietnam War. About a week later, Michael Jr. repaid the favor by extracting his father after he was shot down," Colonel Solomon said.

CW4 Michael Novosel Jr. told the audience of ACSC students and staff that the war in Vietnam was "a little different" from the war they were now fighting in Southwest Asia. He said in Vietnam it was hard for military members to spot the enemy because they regularly did not know who the enemy was. He said mission briefings were brief, often no more than 30 seconds, before lifting off in their helicopters. Sometimes they were given a tactical situation to handle, but upon arrival at the location, things usually were not what they were expecting.

"We were part of Operation Dustoff and were often used to spot enemy locations. They would send us in and watch for the enemy to shoot at us," CW4 Novosel Jr. said. "I personally lost three aircraft in one night, and of about 1,000 people assigned to Dustoff, 250 were killed and about 500 were wounded."

He said the helicopters had no weapons on board, just red crosses painted on their sides, and a crash in them was not a good experience.

"The Huey was not as crash-worthy as the Black Hawk," CW4 Novosel Jr. said. "When it crashed, it came down around your ears."

He said the story of he and his father rescuing each other in Vietnam was often a source of humor for them and other family members.

"My dad used to joke about when he extracted me; he hovered above me, and I just climbed aboard the helicopter," he said. "But, when I rescued him, he had to wade across a rice paddy and come up to me. That was true, but it was because of that rice paddy that I couldn't get any closer to him."

CW4 Novosel Jr. said he wanted to thank everyone involved in the project, especially Michael J. Novosel Foundation director George Metz, for their assistance.

"We had several of these busts made, and they were expensive, but we hope they will be an inspiration to future military members. If not for the efforts of George Metz, this would not have happened," he said.

CW4 Novosel Jr. said the foundation was established to help troops wounded in combat with their recovery. He said it can sometimes take months, even years, from the time members receive their benefits to the time their treatment actually begins.

CW4 Novosel Jr. said he and his dad served a combined total of almost 7,000 flight hours during the Vietnam War. They each served three tours, and their total flight time was the equivalent of about 70 regular tours.

Colonel Solomon closed the ceremony by saying the bust represented the "close relationship" between ACSC and the Novosel family. He said it would be displayed in a "prominent place" at Air Command and Staff College for the benefit of all future students who attend the college.