Henry W. Steadman
| Henry W. Steadman | |
|---|---|
| Nickname(s) | Hank |
| Allegiance | United States |
| Service/branch | Marine Corps |
| Rank | Col. |
Henry (Hank) W. Steadman, Colonel, USMC (Ret) (June 9, 1927 – 24 April, 2016)[1] was a United States Marine Aviator who dedicated his life to being a proud Marine. With over 500 Vietnam Combat Missions he earned 2 Silver Stars and as cited by his Silver Star citation, “By his courage, bold initiative, and unwavering devotion to duty in the face of great personal danger Lieutenant Colonel Steadman was instrumental in saving the lives of two of his fellow Marines ....”[2]
On 15 September 1970, Lt. Col. H. W. Steadman relieved Lt.Col. Scaglione as Commanding Officer of the Purple Foxes, that month the Purple Foxes flew 1,486.4 hours making it the highest month of flying hours in the squadron's Vietnam history.[3] He was also selected to serve on the Marine Honor Guard Detachment of the Freedom Train.
Silver Star
1st Silver Star Citation:[4]
Awarded for actions during the Vietnam War
The President of the United States of America takes pleasure in presenting the Silver Star to Major Henry W. Steadman (MCSN: 0-59087), United States Marine Corps, for conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity in action while serving as Commanding Officer of Marine Medium Helicopter Squadron THREE HUNDRED SIXTY-FOUR (HMM-364), Marine Aircraft Group SIXTEEN (MAG-16), FIRST Marine Aircraft Wing in connection with combat operations against the enemy in the Republic of Vietnam. On the morning of 19 December 1970, Lieutenant Colonel Steadman launched as a Section Leader of a flight of two CH-46 transport helicopters assigned the mission of transporting elements of two Marine companies to various sites in Quang Nam Province. While on an approach to one of the landing zones in the Que Son Mountains, his aircraft lost power, crashed approximately seventy-five yards short of the landing zone, rolled to its left, came to rest upon its port side among some large boulders, and immediately burst into flames. After exiting the cockpit, Lieutenant Colonel Steadman looked back into his transport and saw that his copilot was unconscious and pinned down between his armored seat and the deck. Undaunted by exploding mortar rounds and ammunition and the intense heat, Lieutenant Colonel Steadman broke through one of the panels and reentered his helicopter. Upon seeing that one of his aerial gunners was pinned down in the wreckage and flames were rapidly moving toward him, he boldly assisted another Marine in freeing the aerial gunner and dragging him to safety through the broken windshield. Resolutely returning to the side of his copilot, Lieutenant Colonel Steadman aided another Marine in freeing the copilot's foot which was caught in the rudder pedal area, cut the straps securing the man to his seat, and then pulled him to the windshield where others helped to lift him out and carry him to safety. By his courage, bold initiative, and unwavering devotion to duty in the face of great personal danger, Lieutenant Colonel Steadman was instrumental in saving the lives of two of his fellow Marines and upheld the highest traditions of the Marine Corps and of the United States Naval Service.
Action Date: 18-Nov-65
Service: Marine Corps
Rank: Major
Company: Marine Medium Helicopter Squadron 364 (HMM-364)
Regiment: Marine Aircraft Group 16 (MAG-16)
Division: 1st Marine Aircraft Wing
2nd Silver Star Citation:[5]
Awarded for actions during the Vietnam War
The President of the United States of America takes pleasure in presenting a Gold Star in lieu of a Second Award of the Silver Star to Lieutenant Colonel Henry W. Steadman (MCSN: 0-59087), United States Marine Corps Reserve, for conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity in action while serving as Commanding Officer of Marine Medium Helicopter Squadron THREE HUNDRED SIXTY-FOUR (HMM-364), Marine Aircraft Group Sixteen, FIRST Marine Aircraft Wing in connection with combat operations against the enemy in the Republic of Vietnam. On the morning of 19 December 1970, Lieutenant Colonel Steadman launched as a Section Leader of a flight of two UH-46 transport helicopters assigned the mission of transporting elements of two Marine companies to various sites in Quang Nam Province. While on an approach to one of the landing zones in the Que Son Mountains, his aircraft lost power, crashed approximately seventy-five yards short of the landing zone, rolled to its left, came to rest upon its port side among some large boulders, and immediately burst into flames. After exiting the cockpit, Lieutenant Colonel Steadman looked back into his transport and saw that his copilot was unconscious and pinned down between his armored seat and the deck. Undaunted by exploding mortar rounds and ammunition and the intense heat, Lieutenant Colonel Steadman broke through one of the panels and reentered his helicopter. Upon seeing that one of his aerial gunners was pinned down in the wreckage and flames were rapidly moving toward him, he boldly assisted another Marine in freeing the aerial gunner and dragging him to safety through the broken windshield. Resolutely returning to the side of his copilot, Lieutenant Colonel Steadman aided another Marine in freeing the copilot's foot which was caught in the rudder pedal area, cut the straps securing the man to his seat, and then pulled him to the windshield where others helped to lift him out and carry him to safety. By his courage, bold initiative, and unwavering devotion to duty in the face of great personal danger, Lieutenant Colonel Steadman was instrumental in saving the lives of two of his fellow Marines and upheld the highest traditions of the Marine Corps and of the United States Naval Service.
Action Date: December 19, 1970
Service: Marine Corps
Rank: Lieutenant Colonel
Company: Marine Medium Helicopter Squadron 364 (HMM-364)
Division: 1st Marine Aircraft Wing
Combat History & Awards
Date of Designation: November, 1954
Dates of Active Duty: 2 June 1945 - 1 June 1949 & 1950 - 1978
Total Flight Hours: 5,600
Carrier/Ship Landings: Fixed Wing: 5 Rotary: 100
Approximate Flight Hours: Jet: 1480 Prop: 156 Helo: 2635
Combat Tours: Vietnam: HMM-361, Jul 1965 - Apr 1966, Marble Mountain (H-34) Vietnam: HMM-364, Sep 1970 - Jun 1971, Marble Mountain (CH-46)
Total Combat Missions: 500 (H-34, CH-46, AH-1J, UH-1, CH-53) Aviation Commands: CO, HMM-361, Apr 66 - Jul 66, (H-34) CO, HMM-364, Sep 70 - Feb 71, (CH-46, AH-1, UH-1, CH-53) CO, MAG-29, Jun 74 - Jul 75, (AH-1J, UH-1, OV-10)
Combat Awards:
2 Silver Stars (2nd was a Gold Star in Lieu of a 2nd Silver Star)[6]
Combat "V" Distinguished Flying Cross
25 Air Medals
2 Vietnamese Cross of Gallantry
Freedom Train
Henry W. Steadman took a train ride. A real train ride of 33,162 miles, considered the longest train tour in American railroad history. Although the train visited more than 300 communities in all 48 states, it didn't cost him a red cent.
"We had three Marine officers, three staff noncommissioned officers and 30 corporals and sergeants," Steadman recalled. "It was an honor to have been selected for the Marine Honor Guard Detachment assigned to the Freedom Train."[7]
USMC Duty Assignment[8]
1945 Basic Training USMC, Parris Island, SC.
11/52-5/53 The Basic School, Student, Quantico, VA.
6/53-11/54 Flight School, Student, NAS Pensacola, FL; NAS Kingsville, TX (SNJ, F-6, F-9).
12/54-5/56 VMF-224 Pilot, MCAS El Toro, CA (F-9F).
6/56-3/57 MARS-37 Maint Off, MCAS El Toro, CA. (F-9F, F-3D, TV-2, AD, Beechcraft SNB, R-4D, OE-2).
3/57-4/57 VMF-323 FJ-4 Checkout, MCAS El Toro, CA
5/57-7/58 VMF-323 “Death Rattlers” Pilot, NAS Atsugi, Japan (FJ-4).
9/58-6/59 5th Marine 8th Batt, Air Liaison Off, Camp Lejeune, NC (Beechcraft).
6/59-9/59 Helicopter Training, Ellison Field, FL.
10/59-12/60 HMM-462 Sqdn Training Off, MCAS Santa Ana, CA (HR2S) .
12/60-2/61 Aviation Maint School, Millington, TN.
3/61-10/61 HMM-462 Asst Sqdn Maint/Ops Officer, MCAS Santa Ana, CA (HR2S).
11/61-5/62 Naval Aviation Safety School, USC, CA.
1962-1965 Aviation Safety & Stan Off (Helo & Jet), MARTD NAS Los Alamitos, CA (A-4, H-57, H-37).
7/65-4/66 Sqdn XO & CO, HMM-361, Marble Mtn, Vietnam (H-34).
1966-1967 Marine Corps Command & Staff College, Student, Quantico, VA
1967-1970 Helo Employment Instructor, MCDEC, Quantico, VA.
1970-1971 CO, HMM-364, Marble Mtn, Vietnam (CH-46).
1971-1974 G-3, 3rd Marine Brigade, MCAS Kaneohe, HI (CH-46/53, UH-1, T-28, C-117).
1974-1975 CO, MAG-29, MCAS New River, NC.
1975-1976 Industrial College of Armed Forces, Student, Ft. McNair, VA
8/76-7/78 Joint Logistics Planner, HQ USMC.
References
- ↑ "Henry Steadman 1927 - 2016 Obituary". Pensacola News Journal. 26 April 2016. Retrieved 27 April 2016.
- ↑ "My uncle: Col. Henry W. Steadman, USMC". The American Legion. Retrieved 2016-04-18.
- ↑ "HMM-364 The Purple Foxes in Vietnam". www.hmm-364.org. Retrieved 2016-04-18.
- ↑ "Valor awards for Henry W. Steadman". valor.militarytimes.com. Retrieved 2016-04-18.
- ↑ "Valor awards for Henry W. Steadman". valor.militarytimes.com. Retrieved 2016-04-18.
- ↑ "steadman-h". www.hmm-364.org. Retrieved 2016-04-18.
- ↑ "Freedom Train | Marine Corps Association". www.mca-marines.org. Retrieved 2016-04-18.
- ↑ "Military History of Henry W. Steadman, Colonel, USMC (Ret.)" (PDF).