DEPARTMENT OF THE ARMY
HEADQUARTERS 1ST CAVALRY DIVISION (AIRMOBILE)
| GENERAL ORDERS | 12 July 1970 |
| NUMBER 12394 |
AWARD OF THE SILVER STAR
1. TC 439. The following AWARD is announced posthumously.
HOTTELL, JOHN A. III CAPTAIN INFANTRY United States Army Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 1st Cavalry Division (Airmobile)
AWARDED: Silver Star (First Oak Leaf Cluster)
Date of action: 24 June 1970
Theater: Republic of Cambodia
Authority: By direction of the President, under the provisions of the Act of Congress, approved 9 July 1918.
Reason:
For gallantry in action while engaged in military operations involving conflict with an armed hostile force in the Republic of Cambodia. Captain John A. Hottell III distinguished himself by exceptionally valorous action on 24 June 1970, while serving as aide-de-camp with the 1st Cavalry Division (Airmobile) during a troop extraction from near Fire support Base Bronco in the Republic of Cambodia. As friendly ground units moved to the fire base for extraction from a hostile area they suddenly encountered intense rocket and mortar fire. With the enemy force also launching a devastating barrage of mortar rounds on the fire base, the approaching lift helicopters were gravely endangered by the deadly assault. Captain Hottell, flying in the command and control helicopter, responded immediately and came to the aid of the besieged troops. Once at the contact site, he made a quick and accurate assessment of the tense situation to aid the commander in coordinating the movement of the ground troops. As the helicopter flew through a murderous hail of anti-aircraft and mortar fire, he leaned precariously from the craft in order to more effectively locate the enemy positions and relay vital information to the pilot. Manifesting combat professionalism, Captain Hottell repeatedly exposed himself to the raging barrage of bullets as he provided information from the air that enabled the ground units to repel the enemy, silence the mortar emplacements, and proceeded to the fire support base safely without further incident. Captain Hottell’s gallant action was in keeping with the highest traditions of the military service and reflects great credit upon himself, the 1st Cavalry Division, and the United States Army.
FOR THE COMMANDER: OFFICIAL: E.C. MEYER Colonel, GS Chief of Staff M. F. MC ALISTER MAJ, AGC ASST AG * This document was retyped from a copy of an official document for legibility.
