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MEDAL OF HONOR:
Specialist Five Dennis M. Fujii
Specialist Five Dennis M. Fujii

MEDAL OF HONOR

Vietnam War

Specialist Five Dennis M. Fujii

hometown

Hanapepe, Kauai, Hawaii

Enlistment date

December 1967

Military Occupation (MOS)

Crew Chief (67-N20)

Unit

61st Medical Battalion

Deployments

Vietnam War (1968 and 1970)

Spc. 5 Dennis Fujii was born in Hanapepe, Territory of Hawaii. He was one of six children and his stepfather, Charles, was a mechanic in the National Guard. Fujii enlisted in the Army in 1968 and was able to get his high school diploma while in the service.

Fujii deployed to Vietnam in 1968, he spent his first nine months assigned to the 2nd Battalion, 35th Infantry, 4th Infantry Division as an assistant machine gunner.

Spc. 5 Dennis Fujii shares a moment with his mother after returning home to Hawaii from Vietnam in 1971. (Photo courtesy of the Fujii family)

Spc. 5 Dennis Fujii shares a moment with his mother after returning home to Hawaii from Vietnam in 1971. (Photo courtesy of the Fujii family)

Spc. 5 Dennis Fujii smiles for a picture for an official Army photo. (Photo courtesy of the Fujii family)

In February 1971, the 21-year-old Soldier was on his second Vietnam combat tour as a “dust off” medivac UH-1 helicopter crew chief with the 237th Medical Detachment, 61st Medical Battalion, 67th Medical Group, where he evacuated the wounded out of Laos.

Dennis Fujii poses for a picture during a interview in 2018. (Photo courtesy of the Fujii family)

Fujii returned to Hawaii on Feb. 28, 1971, and was given a hero's welcome by Gov. John A. Burns. He later transferred to the Hawaii Army National Guard and the Pacific Army Reserve. He went on to work as a utilities and logistics technician for Global Associates at the Johnston Atoll Wildlife Refuge Island in the North Pacific.

Fujii was inducted into the Army Aviation Museum's Hall of Fame at Fort Rucker, Alabama, and into the U.S. Army Museum of Hawaii's Gallery of Heroes. He received the Distinguished Service Cross, two Purple Heart medals and one Silver Star.

Spc. 5 Dennis Fujii returns home to Hawaii from Vietnam with a hero's welcome in 1971. (Photo courtesy of the Fujii family)

Medivac helicopter dust off photo provided courtesy of the Vietnam Center & Sam Johnson Vietnam Archive (VNCA), from the James Evans Collection. August 1970

Medivac helicopter dust off photo provided courtesy of the Vietnam Center & Sam Johnson Vietnam Archive (VNCA), from the James Evans Collection. August 1970

The Battle

Feb. 18, 1971 to Feb. 22, 1971 | Laos, Republic of Vietnam

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61st Medical Battalion

Spc. 5 Dennis M. Fujii distinguished himself by conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity beyond the call of duty while serving as crew chief aboard a helicopter ambulance during rescue operations in Laos and the Republic of Vietnam from Feb. 18, 1971 to Feb. 22, 1971.

Fujii was serving with the 237th Medical Detachment, 61st Medical Battalion, 67th Medical Group. The team's mission was to evacuate seriously wounded Vietnamese military personnel from the midst of a raging battlefield.

During the second landing attempt, the enemy concentrated a barrage of flak at the air ambulance, which damaged the aircraft and caused it to crash, injuring Fujii.

A second helicopter was able to land and load all of his fellow downed airmen. However, Fujii was not able to board because the enemy directed fire on him. Rather than endanger the lives aboard the second helicopter, Fujii waved it off to leave the combat area. Subsequent attempts to rescue him were aborted due to the violent anti-aircraft fire. Fujii secured a radio and informed the aviators in the area that the landing zone was too hot for further evacuation attempts. Fujii remained as the lone American on the ground, treating the injuries of South Vietnam troops throughout the night and the next day.

On the night of Feb. 19, the allied perimeter came under ruthless assault by a reinforced enemy regiment supported by heavy artillery. Once again obtaining a radio transmitter, Fujii called in American helicopter gunships to assist the small unit in repelling the attack.

For a period of over 17 consecutive hours, Fujii repeatedly exposed himself to hostile fire as he left the security of his entrenchment to better observe enemy troop positions and to direct air strikes against them. At times, the fighting became so vicious that Fujii was forced to interrupt radio transmittal in order to place suppressive rifle fire on the enemy while at close quarters.

Though wounded and severely fatigued by Feb. 20, the specialist bore the responsibility for the protection and defense of the friendly encampment until an American helicopter could land and attempt to airlift him from the area. As his air ambulance left the still blazing battlefield, it received numerous hits and was forced to crash land at another South Vietnamese Ranger base approximately four kilometers from his original location.

The exhausted Fujii remained at the allied camp for two more days until yet another helicopter could return him to Phau Bai for medical assistance on Feb. 22.

Fujii's extraordinary heroism and devotion to duty were in keeping with the highest traditions of military service and reflect great credit upon himself, his unit and the United States Army.

President Joe Biden stands the Dennis Fujii during the reading of a Medal of Honor citation at ceremony in the East Room of the White House on July 5, 2022. (U.S. Army photo by Sgt. Henry Villarama)

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President Joe Biden stands the Dennis Fujii during the reading of a Medal of Honor citation at ceremony in the East Room of the White House on July 5, 2022. (U.S. Army photo by Sgt. Henry Villarama)

President Joe Biden awards the Medal of Honor to Dennis Fujii for his actions on February 18-22, 1971, during the Vietnam War, at a ceremony in the East Room of the White House on July 5, 2022. (U.S. Army photo by Sgt. Henry Villarama.)

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President Joe Biden awards the Medal of Honor to Dennis Fujii for his actions on February 18-22, 1971, during the Vietnam War, at a ceremony in the East Room of the White House on July 5, 2022. (U.S. Army photo by Sgt. Henry Villarama.)

Medal of Honor recipient Dennis Fujii stands with Secretary of Defense Lloyd J. Austin III; Secretary of the Army Christine Wormuth ; Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Army Gen. Mark A. Milley; Vice Chief of Staff of the Army Gen. Joseph M. Martin; during a Hall of Heroes induction ceremony at Joint Base Myer-Henderson Hall, Va., July 6, 2022. (U.S. Army photo by Sgt. Henry Villarama.)

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Medal of Honor recipient Dennis Fujii stands with Secretary of Defense Lloyd J. Austin III; Secretary of the Army Christine Wormuth ; Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Army Gen. Mark A. Milley; Vice Chief of Staff of the Army Gen. Joseph M. Martin; during a Hall of Heroes induction ceremony at Joint Base Myer-Henderson Hall, Va., July 6, 2022. (U.S. Army photo by Sgt. Henry Villarama.)

Secretary of the Army Christine Wormuth presents a photo and citation to Medal of Honor recipient former Army Spc. Five Dennis M. Fujii, in a ceremony in which Fujii and five other Medal of Honor recipients were inducted into the Pentagon Hall of Heroes, at Joint Base Myer-Henderson Hall, Va., July 6, 2022. (U.S. Army photo by Sgt. Henry Villarama)

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Secretary of the Army Christine Wormuth presents a photo and citation to Medal of Honor recipient former Army Spc. Five Dennis M. Fujii, in a ceremony in which Fujii and five other Medal of Honor recipients were inducted into the Pentagon Hall of Heroes, at Joint Base Myer-Henderson Hall, Va., July 6, 2022. (U.S. Army photo by Sgt. Henry Villarama)

Secretary of Defense Lloyd J. Austin III presents the Medal of Honor flag to Medal of Honor recipient former Army Spc. Five Dennis M. Fujii, in a ceremony in which Fujii and five other Medal of Honor recipients were inducted into the Pentagon Hall of Heroes, at Joint Base Myer-Henderson Hall, Va., July 6, 2022. (U.S. Army photo by Sgt. Henry Villarama)

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Secretary of Defense Lloyd J. Austin III presents the Medal of Honor flag to Medal of Honor recipient former Army Spc. Five Dennis M. Fujii, in a ceremony in which Fujii and five other Medal of Honor recipients were inducted into the Pentagon Hall of Heroes, at Joint Base Myer-Henderson Hall, Va., July 6, 2022. (U.S. Army photo by Sgt. Henry Villarama)

Medal of Honor recipient and former Spc. 5 Dennis Fujii shakes hands with the Vice Chief of Staff of the Army, Gen. Joseph Martin, after his induction to the Pentagon’s Hall of Heroes at Joint Base Myer-Henderson Hall in Arlington, Virginia, July 6, 2022. (U.S. Army photo by Sgt. Henry Villarama)

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Medal of Honor recipient and former Spc. 5 Dennis Fujii shakes hands with the Vice Chief of Staff of the Army, Gen. Joseph Martin, after his induction to the Pentagon’s Hall of Heroes at Joint Base Myer-Henderson Hall in Arlington, Virginia, July 6, 2022. (U.S. Army photo by Sgt. Henry Villarama)

“ On the radio, his fellow Americans knew him as "Papa Whiskey" — clear-eyed, level-headed soldier, directing air strikes so precisely they were able to drive back the forces that had come within 15 to 20 meters of a friendly camp. ”

President Joseph R. Biden

White House Ceremony, July 6, 2022