US Navy CDR Clyde Lassen: Vietnam Aviator and Medal of Honor Recipient

Welcome back everyone. On today's episode of Duty & Valor, you’ll hear the story of a man who started his military career as an enlisted man, but quickly became a Naval aviator.  A man whose flying skills were regarded as among the best in the Navy.  A man who faced countless odds, but secured the rescue of two downed aviators during the Vietnam War.  This is the story of Medal of Honor recipient US Navy Commander Clyde Lassen.   

Clyde was born on March 14, 1942 to parents Arthur and Jacquiline Lassen of Ft. Myers, FL.  While his father was serving during WWII, his mother moved their family to Lake Placid, NY, before returning to FL after the war, where they settled in Englewood.  In 1960, Clyde graduated from Venice High School before attending San Diego City College and Pensacola Junior college.

In September 1961, Clyde enlisted in the US Navy where he was an aviation electronics technician.  He wanted more from his military career so he applied to, and was accepted into the Naval Aviation Cadet Program in 1964.  In October of the following year, he was commissioned as an Ensign and successfully completed the program and was awarded his wings of gold as a helicopter pilot.  The same month he became a pilot, he married Linda, his high school sweetheart, and the two would go on to have two children, Daryl and Lynne.   

Ensign Lassen was sent to the Philippines where he was a member of the Helicopter Combat Support Squadron 1.  Later his unit was attached to the USS Preble, a guided missile destroyer.   

By June 1968, Lassen, who was now a lieutenant junior grade, was the officer in charge of Detachment 104 aboard the ship.  The Preble was sent to the waters off the coast of Vietnam in support of the war, and he flew multiple search and rescue missions there.

On June 19, the call came in that two Naval aviators, Lt. Commanders John Holtzclaw and John Burns, from Fighter Squadron 33 had ejected 20 miles into hostile territory after their F-4 Phantom was hit by a North Vietnamese surface to air missile.  At around midnight, Lt.  Lassen prepared his UH-2A Seasprite light utility helicopter for takeoff.  It was reported that the helicopter was too heavy and wasn’t able to take off with a full fuel load.  And after taking off, he had to drop towards the water in order to gain enough air speed.  He was successful and started his flight towards the downed men.

The men had gone down in rugged terrain with steep hills and dense tree cover.  Once the men were located, Lassen wasted no time in starting the rescue.  He put his Seasprite down at the base of a hill, but the undergrowth in the area was so thick that the two men couldn’t make it to the helicopter.    

The men were then asked to shoot flares into the air, allowing Lassen to plan the next attempt.  Seeing where the men were, he placed his helicopter between two trees and hovered approximately 50 feet from the ground.  Things were progressing quickly and they were attempting to lower a hoist to the men when the last of the flares flickered and died out.  Now in complete darkness, there was no way to know how close the trees were.  He tried his best to keep the helicopter stationary, but that was nearly impossible and it collided with a tree. 

The collision sent the helicopter falling to the ground, but Lt. Lassen was able to gain control and he moved away from the tree line.  With the helicopter damaged, he refused to return to safety.  Rather, he made contact with the men and attempted another rescue.  Lt. Lassen radioed a nearby aircrew and waited for them to illuminate the area with more flares.  While waiting, the two men were told to make their way down the hill and to wait by a clearing until given the word to come out.  

Lt. Lassen’s attempt at another rescue failed as he wasn’t able to land.  Though he was low on fuel and the helicopter was badly damaged, he again, wouldn’t even consider leaving the downed men behind.      

With new flares lighting up the night sky, Lt. Lassen again attempted to put the helicopter down.  While under heavy enemy fire he began his descent. Unfortunately the flares didn’t stay lit long enough for him to land.  

Now frustrated, he risked further danger and used the helicopter’s landing lights to see the landing zone below him.  The ground beneath the helicopter was a rice patty and Lt. Lassen was worried that his tires would get stuck in the mud, so he actually hovered above the ground.  He did so for only two minutes, but two minutes in combat seems like an eternity, and I’m sure it did for all involved.

As the two men were spotted racing toward the helicopter, the gunners aboard the helicopter began firing relentlessly at the tree line.  When the men made it to the helicopter, the same gunners stopped firing and quickly pulled the men aboard.  Within seconds, the helicopter gained altitude and started its flight back.   

Lt. Lassen knew they were far from safe.  They were still flying above hostile territory and he had to dodge anti-aircraft fire nearly the whole way to the coast.  Also, as he couldn’t start the mission with full fuel tanks, and the rescue taking longer than planned, he was extremely low on fuel.  So low that he had no chance of landing back on the Preble, rather he was forced to land on a cruiser, the USS Jouett.   And when he finally landed, he only had five minutes of fuel left.

His heroic flying actions that day not only rescued Lt. Commanders Holtzclaw and Burns, he also ensured his entire aircrew returned safely from their rescue mission.

For his actions that day, Lt. Junior Grade Clyde Lassen was awarded the Medal of Honor, and the medal was bestowed upon him by President Johnson at a White House ceremony on Jan. 16, 1969.

Lassen continued his Navy career before retiring at the rank of commander in December 1982, after twenty years of service.

Commander Clyde Lassen passed away on April 1, 1994 and is buried in Pensacola, FL.

In 2001, the US Navy honored his legacy and named a guided missile destroyer the USS Lassen.

Commander Clyde Lassen faced seemingly insurmountable odds.  In the face of enemy fire and the dark of night, he refused to give up on saving his fellow aviators.  His unwavering courage and selfless determination not only secured the lives of others but became a beacon of hope.  Lassen's heroism serves as an inspiration to all, urging us to face challenges head-on and fight for what we believe in, no matter the cost.

Thank you for listening to this episode of Duty & Valor.  To read more about this week’s hero, check out the sources used in today's episode in our show notes and at dutyandvalor.com.  

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