Kenneth Altazan Awarded Navy Cross

By Mia Freneaux;  Photo by Don Kadair
    When Marine Corps Sergeant Kenneth Altazan was awarded the Silver Star in 1970, it was certainly a well-deserved honor.  The Silver Star is the third highest military decoration the U.S. Navy can award.  Altazan's citation reads: "for conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity in action while serving with Marine Medium Helicopter Squadron THREE HUNDRED SIXTY-FOUR… in connection with combat operations against the enemy in the Republic of Vietnam".  It describes how Sgt. Altazan, onboard an emergency Med-Evac helicopter, "with complete disregard for his own safety", jumped from the chopper to rescue two wounded fellow Marines caught in heavy crossfire in Quang Nam Province.   This act of heroism severely damaged his knee, but thankfully he managed to make it safely onboard the helicopter again.
    Fast forward 46 years later, and newly discovered recordings confirmed that Sgt. Altazan did much more on that fateful day in 1969.  After lifting off from the rice paddy, he spotted two more Marines in trouble.  Jumping again from the helicopter, but this time with a badly injured knee, Sgt. Altazan again rescued two more fellow Marines, risking his life a second time in an area that provided no cover from enemy fire.  The Navy, informed of this new information, decided his heroics merited the Navy Cross, an honor second only to the Medal of Honor.  This past Tuesday, Kenneth Altazan was awarded his long overdue medal in a ceremony held at the U.S.S. Kidd Museum. 
    With typical modesty, former Greenwell Springs resident Ken Altazan accepted his medal in honor of the Purple Foxes of HMM-364, his fellow soldiers, "Heroes all of them," in his words.  His daughter Cassie Starns said, "I still don't think I have completely processed the magnitude of what happened Tuesday.  I am very proud of my father and glad he was recognized for the event that took place in Vietnam. In his speech, he stated that his children and grandchildren make him proud every day, but Tuesday he made us proud!"  
    "Growing up with a Marine for a father, my sister and I always had a deep appreciation and respect for the military," shared his son Brandon. "Before (Tuesday), I had only heard bits and pieces of the story of Mission 5-Mike, as Dad never recounted those events from beginning to end.  It was only after the pilot and the corpsman told me the same story from their point of view that I truly understood the efforts of that day.  My dad accepted the Navy Cross on behalf of 'the Men among men', the 'unsung heroes', his fellow Marines.  The most highly decorated combat Marine pilot of the Vietnam War, Pat Donovan, told me, with tears in his eyes, that my dad is his hero.  As a son, I could not be more proud of my dad."