ID'd Decorated Vietnam USMC Huey Pilot Uniform Grouping Marine Korea Dress

Description

Historic grouping of LTC Robert E Presson, a USMC aviator who served from the 1950s through 1970s. He flew many combat missions in Vietnam and was involved with the first american recon team to be inserted into Laos in 1965 which turned out to be a costly mission. He was awarded the air medal, cross of gallantry, distinguished flying cross and more. There's a lot more online about him
May 1956: qualified as a carrier pilot after 6 landings on the USS Saipan
October 1956: after 18 months training, receives his naval aviator wings at NAS, Corpus Christi TX
Late 56-early 1957: joins VMA 211, 2nd MAW
1/23/58: joins HMR(L) 261, 2nd MAW
VMO-6
8/10/65 Left the US on USS Princeton for Vietnam
9/1/65: VMO-6 began to set up shop at Da Nang airfields before switching to Ky Ha a few days later
10/18/65:
“VMO-6 received request to provide gunship support for the Army on a special classified mission….Two UH-1E gunships were launched from Ky Ha with Maj. Robert Presson, the squadron XO, leading the flight (with SF recon teams)…”
This was to be the first American-led recon team to be inserted into Laos as part of “Shining Brass” to located enemy infiltration areas and weapons.
“The helicopters were skirting the tops of mountains…enroute to the LZ…As the recon teams were dropped off and everything seemed to be going according to the plan, the weather was rapidly closing in…It appeared that there was no VFR routes out of the valley. Stan Kruger recalls hearing Presson say ‘We are going to climb out on a heading of 180. If you don’t here from us again, pick another heading.’ After what felt like an eternity, Stan and Lanny heard Bob report VFR on top at about 10,000 feet. The mission of the first team into Laos was considered a success despite the loss of aircrews and one Nung from the recon team. The team pinpointed several weapons caches that, when struck by air strikes, resulted in numerous secondary explosions.”
11/17/65:
“…the Viet Cong overran the District Headquarters at Hiep Duc…The landing zone to be used (to retake it) was on a small hill, about 80 meters high, with several peaks overlooking it. It had been selected over a larger, natural LZ by an ARVN officer who had been on the earlier reconnaissance flight…Shortly after the helicopters started landing, enemy machine guns opened up from the sides of the hills overlooking the zone…A VMO-6 Huey flight led by Major Robert E Presson aggressively engaged the enemy positions, succeeding in temporarily silencing them. Several H-34s were hit, one of which crashed. After the fixed wing aircraft had bombed and strafed the area again, the helicopter assault was resumed…the entire operation had taken about six hours. Col. Zitnik and Major Presson were decorated with the RVN Gallantry cross for their actions.”
11/23/65: Presson’s co pilot 1st LT Glenn Mann was killed as they were attacking a VC .50 cal gun position. “It was south of Quang Nhai when they were hit twice while making runs on a VC gun position. The first did no damage but the second came up from the lower left and got Glenn in the stomach area. He was dead on arrival at B-Med.
Dec 1, 1965: Awarded cross of gallantry with silver star
Commander, VMO-6 3/23/66 - 6/10/66 (Relieved LT COL Zitnik)
Sometime in June-July 1966: awarded DFC for heroism
9/1/66 Maj. Presson flew B/Gen Stiles and B/Gen Jones to various points in the TAOR
4/19/1968: turns over command of Helicopter Training Squadron 302,
5/20/1968: becomes USMC liaison officer at US Army Aviation Center, Fort Rucker shortly
March 1970: still USMC liaison officer at US Army Aviation Center, Fort Rucker
National defense w/ star
Vietnam campaign w/ 3 stars
Vietnam service
RVN cross of gallantry w/ silver star
Navy unit commendation
PUC w/ no star
DFC w/ v
Definitely has Air Medals
Unit awards
RVN unit citation gallantry cross with palm
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