Larry Sims McKibben
Warrant Officer 1, U.S. Army

On 2 May 1968, Warrant Officer 1 Larry Sims McKibben was serving with 240th Assault Helicopter Company, 214th Combat Aviation Battalion, 12th Aviation Group, 1st Aviation Brigade, in South Vietnam.

On that day, WO1 McKibben was aircraft commander of a helicopter supporting ground operations near Loc Ninh. A small reconnaissance team was pursued by a numerically-superior enemy force, and WO1 McKibben extracted it. A larger team, replacing the smaller one, was quickly surrounded by 2 companies of North Vietnamese Army troops and he volunteered to attempt a 2nd extraction mission. At the landing zone a supporting gunship was shot down by enemy fire. WO1 McKibben braved the fusillade, landed, and rescued the downed crew. After refueling, he returned to the area and prepared to rescue the ground force. Despite being informed that 2 helicopters had sustained casualties to their crews attempting pickups during his absence, he maneuvered through the fire, reached the landing zone, and began loading troops. The enemy force concentrated their full firepower on his craft, but he refused to take off until all survivors were on board. As he prepared to fly out of the landing zone, he was killed instantly by an enemy bullet passing through the cockpit. WO1 McKibben's extraordinary heroism, at the cost of his life, earned him the U.S. Army's second highest award for valor, the Distinguished Service Cross.

Medals, Awards and Badges

Distinguished Service Cross
Purple Heart
Air Medal
National Defense Service Medal
Vietnam Service Medal
Vietnam Campaign Medal
Army Aviator Badge

Distinguished Service Cross Citation

The President of the United States of America, authorized by Act of Congress, July 9, 1918 (amended by act of July 25, 1963), takes pride in presenting the Distinguished Service Cross (Posthumously) to Warrant Officer One (WO-1) Larry Sims McKibben (ASN: W-3155956), United States Army, for extraordinary heroism in connection with military operations involving conflict with an armed hostile force in the Republic of Vietnam, while serving with 240th Assault Helicopter Company, 214th Combat Aviation Battalion, 12th Aviation Group, 1st Aviation Brigade. Warrant Officer McKibben distinguished himself by exceptionally valorous actions on 2 May 1968 as aircraft commander of a helicopter supporting ground operations near Loc Ninh. A small reconnaissance team was pursued by a numerically superior enemy force, and Mister McKibben immediately extracted it. A larger team, replacing the first, was quickly surrounded by two companies of North Vietnamese Army troops and he volunteered to attempt a second extraction mission. At the landing zone a supporting gunship was shot down by the murderous enemy fire. Despite extreme hazard to his safety, Mister McKibben braved the savage fusillade to land and successfully rescue the downed crew. After refueling, he returned to the area and prepared to rescue the ground force. Although he was informed that two helicopters had sustained casualties to their crews attempting pickups during his absence, he fearlessly maneuvered through a hail of fire, reached the landing zone and began loading troops. The enemy force concentrated their full firepower on his craft, but he refused to take off until all survivors were on board. As he prepared to fly out of the landing zone, he was instantly killed by an enemy bullet passing through the cockpit. Warrant Officer McKibben's extraordinary heroism and devotion to duty, at the cost of his life, were in keeping with the highest traditions of the military service and reflect great credit upon himself, his unit, and the United States Army.

General Orders: Headquarters, U.S. Army, Vietnam, General Orders No. 2883 (June 17, 1968)

Honors

The name Larry S McKibben is located on Panel 54E Line 13 of the Vietnam Veterans Memorial Wall.

Burial

Warrant Officer 1 Larry Sims McKibben is buried at San Jacinto Memorial Park in Houston, Harris County, TX.