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Gallantry and Intrepidity Above and Beyond the Call of Duty
Remarks at the induction of Chief Master Sgt. Richard Etchberger into the Hall of Heroes, Sept. 22, 2010, the Pentagon, Washington, D.C.

Valor Has No Expiration Date
Air Force Chief of Staff Gen. Norton Schwartz
Remarks at the induction of Chief Master Sgt. Richard Etchberger into the Hall of Heroes, Sept. 22, 2010, the Pentagon, Washington, D.C.


Chief Etchberger: First E-9 awarded the Medal of Honor
Chief Master Sgt. of the Air Force James A. Roy
Remarks at the induction of Chief Master Sgt. Richard Etchberger into the Hall of Heroes, Sept. 22, 2010, the Pentagon, Washington, D.C.

tabIncident Details 
Despite having received little or no combat training, Chief Etchberger single-handedly held off the enemy with an M-16, while simultaneously directing air strikes into the area and calling for air rescue. Because of his fierce defense and heroic and selfless actions, he was able to deny the enemy access to his position and save the lives of his remaining crew. With the arrival of the rescue aircraft, Chief Etchberger, without hesitation, repeatedly and deliberately risked his own life, exposing himself to heavy enemy fire in order to place three surviving wounded comrades into rescue slings hanging from the hovering helicopter waiting to airlift them to safety.

Read the full citation here.

Read
full biography here.

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Radar Installation

Radar Installation Layout
tabLaos 1968 
Chief Master Sgt. Etchberger

Chief Master Sgt. Richard L. "Dick" Etchberger

March 5, 1933 - March 11, 1968
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