In 1956, a unique design for the Medal of Honor specifically for the U.S. Air Force was created, authorized four years later, and officially adopted on April 14, 1965. Before that, Air Force members, including those in the Army Air Corps and Army Air Forces, were awarded the Army version. But the first Air Force recipient of the new medal would make history in a battle that few would ever forget.
Major Bernie Fisher, a 39-year-old fighter pilot from Kuna, Idaho, became the first to receive this prestigious honor during the Battle of A Shau Valley in March 1966. That same battle also earned him the Silver Star, but the story behind it was far more than medals—it was about courage, risk, and the heart-stopping chaos of war.
The A Shau Valley: A Deadly Gateway
A Shau Valley, located in Thua Thien Hue Province, South Vietnam, is a mile-wide stretch of flatland flanked by mountains soaring 3,000 to 6,000 feet high. Covered in tall elephant grass, it ran like a natural corridor for the North Vietnamese Army (NVA) to infiltrate South Vietnam from Laos via the Ho Chi Minh Trail. The valley was remote, dangerous, and a nightmare for anyone stationed there.
The U.S. had a small Special Forces camp just five miles from the Laotian border, defended by 10 Green Berets from the 5th Special Forces Group and 210 South Vietnamese irregulars. Far from friendly artillery support, the camp relied on Air Commando units flying A-1 Skyraiders and AC-47 Spooky gunships to keep the enemy at bay.
In early March 1966, intelligence gathered from defectors indicated that four battalions of the 325th NVA Division were planning to attack. By March 7, reinforcements had arrived, bringing the camp’s defenders to 17 Green Berets and 368 allied irregulars and mercenaries. But the danger was only escalating.
Chaos Unleashed: The Night of March 9
Just after midnight on March 9, the AC-47 “Spooky 70” tried to intervene, flying low through thick clouds to strike the attacking NVA. It was hit hard, engines destroyed, crash-landing on a mountainside. Three of the crew were killed, the rest eventually rescued. The camp endured relentless mortar, artillery, and RPG fire overnight, suffering casualties and destruction.
Enter Bernie Fisher: The Skies Over A Shau
Early morning on March 9, Fisher led a flight of A-1Es to provide support. Flying at treetop level under heavy fire, he guided helicopters to evacuate the wounded, led airstrikes against enemy forces, and ensured supplies reached the beleaguered camp—all under near-impossible conditions. At one point, he spent two hours navigating the valley at low altitude through clouds and intense ground fire, returning only with minutes of fuel remaining.
Fisher’s courage didn’t end there. That afternoon, when a fellow Air Force pilot, Maj. Dafford “Jump” Myers, crash-landed under enemy fire, Fisher made a decision that would define his legacy. He landed his A-1E on a hostile airstrip, under fire from 20 anti-aircraft positions and hundreds of enemy troops, to rescue Myers. Navigating a runway covered in debris, shattered steel, and smoke, he guided Myers into the cockpit while bullets whizzed by, engines running, ready to escape.
Against all odds, Fisher took off, carrying Myers to safety. His aircraft bore 19 bullet holes; the mission saved a life and kept the NVA pressure off the camp temporarily.
The Aftermath: Heroism Honored
Despite the heroics, the A Shau camp fell later that day, with many defenders killed or wounded. The NVA paid dearly, losing hundreds to airstrikes and ground fire. Fisher’s actions, however, became legendary. He was awarded the first Air Force Medal of Honor by President Johnson on January 19, 1967, alongside medals for his fellow pilots and comrades.
The A Shau Valley would remain contested for years, and Fisher continued his career, retiring as a colonel in 1974. His aircraft from the battle survives today at the Air Force Museum in Dayton, Ohio, a testament to courage under fire.
And He Wasn’t Alone
Fisher’s story was one of many. Sgt. First Class Bennie Adkins, defending the same camp, fought for 86 hours under fire, rescuing wounded comrades, defending positions, and surviving multiple wounds. Originally awarded the Distinguished Service Cross, Adkins’ valor was later recognized with the Medal of Honor in 2014.
The Battle of A Shau Valley wasn’t just a fight—it was a crucible of bravery, resilience, and sacrifice. And at the heart of it, men like Bernie Fisher and Bennie Adkins showed what it truly meant to go above and beyond, putting everything on the line to save lives and fight for their comrades.
