Born at Greenville, Iowa, on June 29, 1934, he earned the Medal of Honor during the Vietnam War, while serving as Captain, United States Air Force over North Vietnam.
On March 10, 1967 he was one of a flight of F-105 aircraft engaged in a fire suppression mission designed to destroy a key anti-aircraft complex containing surface-to-air missiles (SAM), an exceptionally heavy concentration of anti-aircraft artillery and other automatic weapons. The defensive network was situated so as to protect important North Vietnam industrial centers that were scheduled to be attacked by fighter-bombers immediately after the attack by his flight.
In the initial attack, the lead aircraft was crippled and his plane extensively damaged by intense enemy fire. Realizing that the success of the impending attack now depended on his ability to effectively suppress the defensive fire, he ignored the enemy’s overwhelming firepower, and the damage to his aircraft, and pressed the attack.
Despite a continued hail of enemy fire, and counterattacks by enemy MIG interceptors, he flew repeated close-range strikes to silence the enemy defensive positions with bombs and cannon fire. His action in rendering ineffective the defensive SAM units enabled the ensuing fighter-bombers to strike successfully the important industrial targets, thereby appreciably reducing the enemy’s ability to provide essential war materials. His consummate skill and selfless dedication to his significant mission were in keeping with the highest traditions of the United States Air Force and reflect great credit upon himself and the Armed Forces of the United States of America.
Major Dethlefsen died of natural causes on December 14, 1987 and was subsequently buried in Section 65 of Arlington National Cemetery.
DETHLEFSEN, MERLYN HANS
Rank and organization: Major (then Capt.), U.S. Air Force. Place and date: In the air over North Vietnam, 10 March 1967. Entered service at: Royal, Iowa. Born: 29 June 1934, Greenville, Iowa. Citation: Maj. Dethlefsen was one of a flight of F-105 aircraft engaged in a fire suppression mission designed to destroy a key antiaircraft defensive complex containing surface-to-air missiles (SAM), an exceptionally heavy concentration of antiaircraft artillery, and other automatic weapons. The defensive network was situated to dominate the approach and provide protection to an important North Vietnam industrial center that was scheduled to be attacked by fighter bombers immediately after the strike by Maj. Dethlefsen’s flight. In the initial attack on the defensive complex the lead aircraft was crippled, and Maj. Dethlefsen’s aircraft was extensively damaged by the intense enemy fire. Realizing that the success of the impending fighter bomber attack on the center now depended on his ability to effectively suppress the defensive fire, Maj. Dethlefsen ignored the enemy’s overwhelming firepower and the damage to his aircraft and pressed his attack. Despite a continuing hail of antiaircraft fire, deadly surface-to-air missiles, and counterattacks by MIG interceptors, Maj. Dethlefsen flew repeated close range strikes to silence the enemy defensive positions with bombs and cannon fire. His action in rendering ineffective the defensive SAM and antiaircraft artillery sites enabled the ensuing fighter bombers to strike successfully the important industrial target without loss or damage to their aircraft, thereby appreciably reducing the enemy’s ability to provide essential war material. Maj. Dethlefsen’s consummate skill and selfless dedication to this significant mission were in keeping with the highest traditions of the U.S. Air Force and reflect great credit upon himself and the Armed Forces of his country.
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Michael Robert Patterson was born in Arlington and is the son of a former officer of the US Army. So it was no wonder that sooner or later his interests drew him to American history and especially to American military history. Many of his articles can be found on renowned portals like the New York Times, Washingtonpost or Wikipedia.
Reviewed by: Michael Howard