1332:
the 37th
Aerospace Rescue and Recovery Squadron, 3d Air Rescue and Recovery Group, DaNang Air Base, Vietnam, as a Paramedic (Pararescueman) on an unarmed HH-3E Rescue Helicopter near Mu Gia Pass, North Vietnam, on 6 February 1967. On that date, Airman Hackney flew two sorties in a heavily defended hostile area. On the first sortie, despite the presence of armed forces known to be hostile, entrenched in the vicinity, Airman Hackney volunteered to be lowered into the jungle to search for the survivor. He searched until the controlling Search and Rescue agency ordered an evacuation of the rescue crew. On the second sortie, Airman Hackney located the downed pilot, who was hoisted into the helicopter. As the rescue crew departed the area, intense and accurate 37-mm. flak tore into the helicopter amidships, causing extensive damage and a raging fire aboard the craft. With complete disregard for his own safety, Airman Hackney fitted his parachute to the rescued man. In this moment of impending disaster, Airman Hackney chose to place his responsibility to the survivor above his own life. The courageous Pararescueman located another parachute for himself and had just slipped his arms through the harness when a second 37-mm. round struck the crippled aircraft, sending it out of control. The force of the explosion blew Airman Hackney through the open cargo door and, though stunned, he managed to deploy the unbuckled parachute and make a successful landing. He was later recovered by a companion helicopter. Through his extraordinary heroism, superb airmanship, and aggressiveness in the face of hostile forces, Airman Hackney reflected the highest credit upon himself and the United States Air Force.
1085:
992:
910:
1071:
983:
589:
874:
769:
1078:
901:
885:
1008:
937:
794:
944:
644:
689:
580:
1062:
844:
1035:
928:
1053:
607:
922:
835:
653:
808:
749:
617:
598:
1029:
1022:
977:
970:
963:
956:
868:
861:
829:
822:
788:
781:
763:
756:
722:
683:
665:
638:
631:
624:
1002:
854:
815:
715:
708:
701:
671:
1047:
895:
739:
728:
335:
25:
519:
456:
and the chute opened just as he hit the trees, where he fell a further 80 feet and came to rest on a ledge in a crevasse. He narrowly avoided capture while enemy troops jumped across the crevasse. Jolly 36 immediately made a run in to locate any survivors and found only burning wreckage, with
Hackney waving his arms for pickup. He was the only survivor.
133:
1534:
443:, North Vietnam. After Airman Hackney made one unsuccessful trip to the ground in search of the pilot, both Jollys returned to base due to foul weather. Later in the day, the helicopters launched again and located the survivor. Airman Hackney was lowered to the ground, and after securing the survivor into the
1331:
of
America, authorized by Title 10, Section 8742, United States Code, takes pleasure in presenting the Air Force Cross to Airman Second Class Duane D. Hackney (AFSN: 16827003), United States Air Force, for extraordinary heroism in military operations against an opposing armed force while serving with
463:
for 1967. The Cheney Award is given annually to a member of USAF for an act of valor, extreme fortitude, or self-sacrifice in a humanitarian interest performed in conjunction with aircraft. Upon his return from
Vietnam in 1967, Hackney was deployed to the 41st Aerospace Rescue & Recovery Squadron
455:
and placed it on the survivor. He moved to grab another one from storage as the helicopter was hit by a second round. In an instant, it exploded, just as Airman
Hackney slipped his arms through the harness. He was blown out of Jolly 05 by the explosion. Hanging from the harness, he pulled the ripcord
501:
near San
Antonio was renamed the Hackney Training Complex. The facility has space to train up to 1,200 people, and a staff of 50. His widow, Carole Hackney Bergstrom, said about the dedication: "I just wish he could see this. I think he'd really be proud of what he did. He would tell you, 'All this
285:. He was the most decorated enlisted man in USAF history and the recipient of 28 decorations for valor in combat and more than 70 awards and decorations in all. He served in the Air Force from 1965 to 1991, retiring as a
395:
Five times in the months ahead, his helicopters were shot down. He did not recall how often he went down into the jungle looking for survivors or how many lives his medical training helped him save. He was awarded four
1595:
1605:
387:
Three days after arriving in
Vietnam, Hackney flew his first combat mission. Somewhere on that mission, a .30-caliber slug buried itself in his leg. To avoid being grounded by the medics, he had one of his
1570:
1580:
1505:
The
Pararescue Association. (1996). Airman Second Class Duane D. Hackney, p. 112: Fine Books Publishing Company, LLC. Charlotte, NC. Library of Congress Number 94-061879
392:
friends remove the slug with a probe. That incident set the tone for the more than 200 combat missions he was to fly during his three and a half years of
Vietnam duty.
447:, both were lifted out. No sooner did they reach Jolly 05's door when ground fire erupted. As they raced to exit the area, the helicopter was hit with a 37 mm
459:
Hackney went on to receive more than 70 individual awards, becoming the most decorated enlisted man in United States Air Force history. He was the winner of the
1585:
428:
229:
1184:
1134:
397:
257:
1565:
1514:
1350:
1158:
1610:
1600:
1365:
1283:
1218:
1590:
1575:
1278:
1208:
1084:
389:
1394:
1268:
1109:
562:
374:
352:
108:
42:
529:
1298:
1228:
1119:
469:
405:
290:
249:
89:
1524:
1424:
1328:
1223:
356:
306:
61:
46:
1519:
1099:
1455:
991:
68:
1243:
544:
982:
1248:
921:
1477:
1028:
1021:
976:
969:
962:
955:
867:
860:
828:
821:
787:
780:
762:
755:
721:
682:
664:
637:
630:
623:
540:
345:
75:
35:
1288:
1001:
853:
814:
714:
707:
700:
1070:
873:
588:
909:
768:
57:
1303:
1263:
1258:
1046:
894:
498:
465:
318:
279:
201:
1077:
900:
884:
807:
748:
616:
1309:
1203:
1194:
793:
444:
1238:
491:
479:
286:
219:
1007:
936:
579:
943:
643:
1560:
1555:
474:
436:
688:
432:
1179:
1061:
843:
1034:
927:
451:
round and caught fire. With complete disregard for his own welfare, Airman
Hackney removed his
1143:
413:
262:
82:
1198:
1138:
1539:
1372:
1052:
606:
163:
1402:
834:
652:
597:
400:, not for flying a certain number of missions but for specific acts of heroism, and 18
1549:
448:
424:
282:
1153:
670:
460:
417:
294:
266:
180:
1432:
297:
to receive the medal, and at the time of its award he was its youngest recipient.
1129:
440:
409:
334:
253:
239:
24:
738:
727:
1529:
439:. They were attempting the recovery of a downed O-1F pilot, Nail 65, near the
305:
Duane Hackney was born on June 5, 1947, in Flint, Michigan. He graduated from
1174:
1163:
452:
401:
132:
505:
In 2009, Hackney was inducted into the Michigan Aviation Hall of Fame.
359: in this section. Unsourced material may be challenged and removed.
547:. Statements consisting only of original research should be removed.
423:
Hackney's most celebrated mission was on February 6, 1967, when two
1456:"Heroic Flint native Duane Hackney named to Aviation Hall of Fame"
427:
helicopters, Jolly Green 05 and Jolly Green 36, launched from the
1371:. Pacific Air Forces Office of History. p. 2. Archived from
468:, in Marin County, California. Shortly after the awarding of his
512:
328:
321:
on June 18, 1965, and was trained as a pararescue specialist.
18:
1596:
Recipients of the Distinguished Flying Cross (United States)
1515:
Air Force Link entry: Chief Master Sergeant Duane D. Hackney
1606:
Recipients of the Meritorious Service Medal (United States)
16:
US Air Force airman and recipient of the Purple Heart medal
1366:"This Week in PACAF and USAF History 7–13 September 2009"
472:
on September 9, 1967, Hackney made a guest appearance on
536:
1322:
The text of Hackney's Air Force Cross citation reads:
1395:"This week in history: Hackney receives Cheney Award"
1571:
United States Air Force personnel of the Vietnam War
502:stuff wasn't necessary. I was just doing my job.'"
408:, for which he was the first living recipient, the
245:
235:
225:
215:
207:
195:
187:
170:
150:
142:
123:
49:. Unsourced material may be challenged and removed.
1581:Recipients of the Air Force Cross (United States)
1425:"Texas USAF Facility Named For Vietnam War Hero"
278:(June 5, 1947 – September 3, 1993) was a
1520:USAF's Most Decorated PJ – Air Force Magazine
8:
1259:Air Force Overseas Short Tour Service Ribbon
1264:Air Force Overseas Long Tour Service Ribbon
494:on September 3, 1993. He was 46 years old.
429:38th Aerospace Rescue and Recovery Squadron
230:37th Aerospace Rescue and Recovery Squadron
131:
120:
563:Learn how and when to remove this message
375:Learn how and when to remove this message
109:Learn how and when to remove this message
1092:
137:Duane D. Hackney as a technical sergeant
1525:A Habit of Heroism – Air Force Magazine
1343:
497:In June 2006, the training facility at
1484:. Gannett Government Media Corporation
1284:Small Arms Expert Marksmanship Ribbon
1219:Outstanding Airman of the Year Ribbon
7:
357:adding citations to reliable sources
47:adding citations to reliable sources
420:, and several foreign decorations.
1353:Chief Master Sgt. Duane D. Hackney
1100:USAF Senior Enlisted Aircrew Badge
14:
1269:Air Force Longevity Service Award
1586:Recipients of the Airman's Medal
1566:Military personnel from Michigan
1532:
1454:York, Sally A. (February 2009).
1299:Korea Presidential Unit Citation
1229:Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal
1083:
1076:
1069:
1060:
1051:
1045:
1033:
1027:
1020:
1006:
1000:
990:
981:
975:
968:
961:
954:
942:
935:
926:
920:
908:
899:
893:
883:
872:
866:
859:
852:
842:
833:
827:
820:
813:
806:
792:
786:
779:
767:
761:
754:
747:
737:
726:
720:
713:
706:
699:
687:
681:
669:
663:
651:
642:
636:
629:
622:
615:
605:
596:
587:
578:
517:
333:
23:
509:Military awards and decorations
344:needs additional citations for
34:needs additional citations for
1611:United States Air Force airmen
1329:President of the United States
1224:National Defense Service Medal
1:
1601:Recipients of the Silver Star
1355:Retrieved: February 24, 2018.
398:Distinguished Flying Crosses
1591:Recipients of the Air Medal
1576:People from Flint, Michigan
1244:Korea Defense Service Medal
543:the claims made and adding
490:Duane D. Hackney died of a
1627:
1249:Humanitarian Service Medal
1185:Presidential Unit Citation
1135:Distinguished Flying Cross
1118:
1108:
1098:
478:. In 1991 he retired as a
293:, he was the first living
258:Distinguished Flying Cross
1308:
1302:
1297:
1289:Air Force Training Ribbon
1287:
1282:
1277:
1267:
1262:
1257:
1247:
1242:
1237:
1227:
1222:
1217:
1207:
1202:
1193:
1183:
1178:
1173:
1162:
1159:Meritorious Service Medal
1157:
1152:
1142:
1133:
1128:
595:
586:
577:
130:
1318:Air Force Cross citation
1110:Master Parachutist Badge
317:Hackney enlisted in the
1399:Kirtland Air Force Base
1304:Vietnam Gallantry Cross
1279:NCO PME Graduate Ribbon
499:Lackland Air Force Base
466:Hamilton Air Force Base
319:United States Air Force
280:United States Air Force
202:United States Air Force
1335:
1310:Vietnam Campaign Medal
1204:Combat Readiness Medal
1195:Outstanding Unit Award
1324:
1239:Vietnam Service Medal
480:chief master sergeant
289:. A recipient of the
287:chief master sergeant
220:Chief Master Sergeant
208:Years of service
475:The Ed Sullivan Show
353:improve this article
43:improve this article
1405:on 27 February 2013
307:Beecher High School
1478:"Duane D. Hackney"
1209:Good Conduct Medal
1180:Commendation Medal
1166:(18 total awards)
528:possibly contains
58:"Duane D. Hackney"
1315:
1314:
1091:
1090:
573:
572:
565:
530:original research
385:
384:
377:
273:
272:
119:
118:
111:
93:
1618:
1542:
1540:Biography portal
1537:
1536:
1535:
1494:
1493:
1491:
1489:
1474:
1468:
1467:
1465:
1463:
1451:
1445:
1444:
1442:
1440:
1431:. Archived from
1421:
1415:
1414:
1412:
1410:
1401:. Archived from
1391:
1385:
1384:
1382:
1380:
1375:on April 8, 2014
1370:
1362:
1356:
1348:
1093:
1087:
1080:
1073:
1064:
1055:
1049:
1037:
1031:
1024:
1010:
1004:
994:
985:
979:
972:
965:
958:
946:
939:
930:
924:
912:
903:
897:
887:
876:
870:
863:
856:
846:
837:
831:
824:
817:
810:
796:
790:
783:
771:
765:
758:
751:
741:
730:
724:
717:
710:
703:
691:
685:
673:
667:
655:
646:
640:
633:
626:
619:
609:
600:
591:
582:
575:
574:
568:
561:
557:
554:
548:
545:inline citations
521:
520:
513:
486:Death and legacy
404:. Then came the
380:
373:
369:
366:
360:
337:
329:
276:Duane D. Hackney
197:
177:
174:3 September 1993
160:
158:
135:
125:Duane D. Hackney
121:
114:
107:
103:
100:
94:
92:
51:
27:
19:
1626:
1625:
1621:
1620:
1619:
1617:
1616:
1615:
1546:
1545:
1538:
1533:
1531:
1511:
1503:
1498:
1497:
1487:
1485:
1476:
1475:
1471:
1461:
1459:
1458:. Michigan Live
1453:
1452:
1448:
1438:
1436:
1435:on 4 March 2016
1423:
1422:
1418:
1408:
1406:
1393:
1392:
1388:
1378:
1376:
1368:
1364:
1363:
1359:
1349:
1345:
1340:
1320:
1120:Air Force Cross
1057:
1056:
1050:
1039:
1038:
1032:
1025:
1012:
1011:
1005:
987:
986:
980:
973:
966:
959:
932:
931:
925:
905:
904:
898:
878:
877:
871:
864:
857:
839:
838:
832:
825:
818:
811:
798:
797:
791:
784:
773:
772:
766:
759:
752:
732:
731:
725:
718:
711:
704:
693:
692:
686:
675:
674:
668:
648:
647:
641:
634:
627:
620:
569:
558:
552:
549:
534:
522:
518:
511:
488:
470:Air Force Cross
437:Udorn, Thailand
406:Air Force Cross
381:
370:
364:
361:
350:
338:
327:
315:
313:Military career
303:
291:Air Force Cross
265:
261:
260:(4) w/ Combat V
256:
252:
250:Air Force Cross
179:
175:
164:Flint, Michigan
162:
156:
154:
138:
126:
115:
104:
98:
95:
52:
50:
40:
28:
17:
12:
11:
5:
1624:
1622:
1614:
1613:
1608:
1603:
1598:
1593:
1588:
1583:
1578:
1573:
1568:
1563:
1558:
1548:
1547:
1544:
1543:
1528:
1527:
1522:
1517:
1510:
1509:External links
1507:
1502:
1499:
1496:
1495:
1482:Military Times
1469:
1446:
1416:
1386:
1357:
1342:
1341:
1339:
1336:
1319:
1316:
1313:
1312:
1307:
1306:Unit Citation
1301:
1296:
1292:
1291:
1286:
1281:
1276:
1272:
1271:
1266:
1261:
1256:
1252:
1251:
1246:
1241:
1236:
1232:
1231:
1226:
1221:
1216:
1212:
1211:
1206:
1201:
1192:
1188:
1187:
1182:
1177:
1172:
1168:
1167:
1161:
1156:
1151:
1147:
1146:
1144:Airman's Medal
1141:
1132:
1127:
1123:
1122:
1117:
1113:
1112:
1107:
1103:
1102:
1097:
1089:
1088:
1081:
1074:
1066:
1065:
1058:
1044:
1043:
1042:
1040:
1026:
1019:
1018:
1017:
1014:
1013:
999:
998:
997:
995:
988:
974:
967:
960:
953:
952:
951:
948:
947:
940:
933:
919:
918:
917:
914:
913:
906:
892:
891:
890:
888:
880:
879:
865:
858:
851:
850:
849:
847:
840:
826:
819:
812:
805:
804:
803:
800:
799:
785:
778:
777:
776:
774:
760:
753:
746:
745:
744:
742:
734:
733:
719:
712:
705:
698:
697:
696:
694:
680:
679:
678:
676:
662:
661:
660:
657:
656:
649:
635:
628:
621:
614:
613:
612:
610:
602:
601:
593:
592:
584:
583:
571:
570:
525:
523:
516:
510:
507:
487:
484:
433:Udorn Air Base
414:Airman's Medal
383:
382:
341:
339:
332:
326:
323:
314:
311:
302:
299:
271:
270:
263:Airman's Medal
247:
243:
242:
237:
233:
232:
227:
223:
222:
217:
213:
212:
209:
205:
204:
199:
193:
192:
189:
185:
184:
178:(aged 46)
172:
168:
167:
152:
148:
147:
144:
140:
139:
136:
128:
127:
124:
117:
116:
31:
29:
22:
15:
13:
10:
9:
6:
4:
3:
2:
1623:
1612:
1609:
1607:
1604:
1602:
1599:
1597:
1594:
1592:
1589:
1587:
1584:
1582:
1579:
1577:
1574:
1572:
1569:
1567:
1564:
1562:
1559:
1557:
1554:
1553:
1551:
1541:
1530:
1526:
1523:
1521:
1518:
1516:
1513:
1512:
1508:
1506:
1500:
1483:
1479:
1473:
1470:
1457:
1450:
1447:
1434:
1430:
1426:
1420:
1417:
1404:
1400:
1396:
1390:
1387:
1374:
1367:
1361:
1358:
1354:
1351:
1347:
1344:
1337:
1334:
1333:
1330:
1323:
1317:
1311:
1305:
1300:
1294:
1293:
1290:
1285:
1280:
1274:
1273:
1270:
1265:
1260:
1254:
1253:
1250:
1245:
1240:
1234:
1233:
1230:
1225:
1220:
1214:
1213:
1210:
1205:
1200:
1196:
1190:
1189:
1186:
1181:
1176:
1170:
1169:
1165:
1160:
1155:
1149:
1148:
1145:
1140:
1136:
1131:
1125:
1124:
1121:
1115:
1114:
1111:
1105:
1104:
1101:
1095:
1094:
1086:
1082:
1079:
1075:
1072:
1068:
1067:
1063:
1059:
1054:
1048:
1041:
1036:
1030:
1023:
1016:
1015:
1009:
1003:
996:
993:
989:
984:
978:
971:
964:
957:
950:
949:
945:
941:
938:
934:
929:
923:
916:
915:
911:
907:
902:
896:
889:
886:
882:
881:
875:
869:
862:
855:
848:
845:
841:
836:
830:
823:
816:
809:
802:
801:
795:
789:
782:
775:
770:
764:
757:
750:
743:
740:
736:
735:
729:
723:
716:
709:
702:
695:
690:
684:
677:
672:
666:
659:
658:
654:
650:
645:
639:
632:
625:
618:
611:
608:
604:
603:
599:
594:
590:
585:
581:
576:
567:
564:
556:
546:
542:
538:
532:
531:
526:This section
524:
515:
514:
508:
506:
503:
500:
495:
493:
485:
483:
481:
477:
476:
471:
467:
462:
457:
454:
450:
449:anti-aircraft
446:
445:Stokes litter
442:
438:
434:
430:
426:
421:
419:
415:
411:
407:
403:
399:
393:
391:
379:
376:
368:
358:
354:
348:
347:
342:This section
340:
336:
331:
330:
324:
322:
320:
312:
310:
308:
300:
298:
296:
292:
288:
284:
283:pararescueman
281:
277:
268:
264:
259:
255:
251:
248:
244:
241:
238:
234:
231:
228:
224:
221:
218:
214:
210:
206:
203:
200:
194:
191:United States
190:
186:
182:
173:
169:
165:
153:
149:
145:
141:
134:
129:
122:
113:
110:
102:
91:
88:
84:
81:
77:
74:
70:
67:
63:
60: –
59:
55:
54:Find sources:
48:
44:
38:
37:
32:This article
30:
26:
21:
20:
1504:
1501:Publications
1486:. Retrieved
1481:
1472:
1460:. Retrieved
1449:
1437:. Retrieved
1433:the original
1428:
1419:
1407:. Retrieved
1403:the original
1398:
1389:
1379:December 20,
1377:. Retrieved
1373:the original
1360:
1352:
1346:
1326:
1325:
1321:
1154:Purple Heart
559:
553:January 2013
550:
527:
504:
496:
492:heart attack
489:
473:
461:Cheney Award
458:
422:
418:Purple Heart
394:
386:
371:
362:
351:Please help
346:verification
343:
316:
304:
295:enlisted man
275:
274:
267:Purple Heart
236:Battles/wars
181:Pennsylvania
176:(1993-09-03)
105:
99:January 2013
96:
86:
79:
72:
65:
53:
41:Please help
36:verification
33:
1561:1993 deaths
1556:1947 births
1130:Silver Star
441:Mu Gia Pass
410:Silver Star
325:Vietnam War
254:Silver Star
240:Vietnam War
161:5 June 1947
143:Nickname(s)
1550:Categories
1488:13 January
1462:13 January
1439:13 January
1409:13 January
1338:References
1199:Combat "V"
1139:Combat "V"
537:improve it
402:Air Medals
301:Early life
188:Allegiance
157:1947-06-05
69:newspapers
1295:10th row
1175:Air Medal
1164:Air Medal
541:verifying
453:parachute
309:in 1965.
211:1965–1991
1275:9th row
1255:8th row
1235:7th row
1215:6th row
1191:5th row
1171:4th row
1150:3rd row
1126:2nd row
1116:1st row
365:May 2024
196:Service/
535:Please
83:scholar
1429:KWTX ]
1106:badge
1096:Badge
416:, the
412:, the
246:Awards
198:branch
183:, U.S.
166:, U.S.
85:
78:
71:
64:
56:
1369:(PDF)
90:JSTOR
76:books
1490:2013
1464:2013
1441:2013
1411:2013
1381:2015
1327:The
425:HH-3
226:Unit
216:Rank
171:Died
151:Born
62:news
1197:w/
1137:w/
539:by
464:at
431:at
355:by
269:(2)
146:Moe
45:by
1552::
1480:.
1427:.
1397:.
482:.
435:,
390:PJ
1492:.
1466:.
1443:.
1413:.
1383:.
566:)
560:(
555:)
551:(
533:.
378:)
372:(
367:)
363:(
349:.
159:)
155:(
112:)
106:(
101:)
97:(
87:·
80:·
73:·
66:·
39:.
Text is available under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License. Additional terms may apply.
