Captain John O’Sullivan Commemoration & Helicopter Fly-In - Listowel, Ireland.
Saturday 29th April 2017
In conjunction with the Listowel Military Tattoo, Listowel Town & County Kerry will be remembering one of its own, Captain John I. O’Sullivan, a truly distinguished military & civilian helicopter pilot.
Weekend Schedule
The commemoration will be attended by many of John’s family & aviation friends, including several Viet Nam veterans. To this day, John remains the second most highly decorated US Army Aviator!
Also Attending the Listowel Military Tattoo are:-
Veterans from 1st Air Cav will be attending from the USA
Veterans from 174th AHC will be attending from the USA
Michael Banek and Tommy O'keefee from the 174th AHC
Family members of Veterans passed
Irish Defence Forces Parachute Display team the Black Knights will be jumping in to the racecourse on Saturday April 29th.
Wreaths will also be laid at the veterans ceremony for the crew of Irish Coastguard helicopter Rescue 116 and volunteer Coastguard member Catriona Lucas from the Doolin coastguard station in Co. Clare
John’s Military Career
  Tralee native Captain John O’Sullivan- Helo pilot with the 174th Aviation Company, US Army, was one of the most highly decorated combat pilots in US Army Aviation.
1 DSC,
6 DFC
5 Purple Heart
3 Bronze Star
3 Silver Star
42 Air Medal
Distinguished Service Cross
Awarded for actions during the Vietnam War
 The President of the United States of America, authorised by Act of Congress, July 9, 1918 (amended by act of July 25, 1963), takes pleasure in presenting the Distinguished Service Cross to Second Lieutenant (Infantry) John I. O’Sullivan, United States Army, for extraordinary heroism in connection with military operations involving conflict with an armed hostile force in the Republic of Vietnam, while serving with 174th Aviation company, 14th Aviation Battalion, American Division. Second Lieutenant O’Sullivan distinguished himself while serving as fire team leader of a helicopter gunship team flying in support of allied operations near Quang Ngai. Although under a continuous hail of enemy automatic weapons fire, Lieutenant O’Sullivan led an aggressive attack on three companies of enemy soldiers that were entrenched in a Vietnamese village. Repeatedly exposing his aircraft to intense enemy automatic weapons fire, he eliminated four enemy soldiers and destroyed two enemy bunkers. His aircraft was then shot down by intense enemy fire as he descended to a low altitude to provide cover fire for another downed friendly helicopter.  After surveying the damage to his downed ship, Lieutenant O’Sullivan returned to the cockpit and flew the crippled craft to a nearby air strip. He then obtained another gunship and returned to the area to take command of the fire team. While covering the recovery of the downed helicopter, he eliminated five more of the enemy. Responding to an urgent appeal for assistance from another allied unit, he again braved intense fire as he assaulted three enemy machine gun positions. During this encounter, his gunship was damaged by enemy fire. Undaunted, he continued his aggressive assault, destroyed the enemy machine gun positions, and completely routed the enemy force. Second Lieutenant O’Sullivan extraordinary heroism and devotion to duty were in keeping with the highest traditions of the military service and reflect great credit upon himself, his unit, and the United States Army.
Follow the Huey Project on Facebook Page- “The Listowel Huey – “Nothing Impossible”
Also attending for the whole weekend - the UK Huey ‘509’
LOCATION: Listowel Racecourse, Listowel, County Kerry, Ireland
DATE: Saturday 29th April 2017 starting 12.00 local
ORGANISOR: Padrigh Nolan +353 85 846 0046 alphamodelcraft@gmail.com
MEDIA CONTACT: Joe McDermott Media@GlobalFBOconsult.me
|
