Incident 28 April 1971 near An Khe

My name is Deborah Hanson. I am the daughter of Chief Warrant Officer Four Robert Lloyd Adams II, United States Army (Retired), and I am writing to request your assistance in connection with a formal Medal of Honor reconsideration currently being submitted to the U.S. Army Human Resources Command under Case Number HQDA-251215-76NQ.

I am writing to your association specifically because we believe that the two AH-1 Cobra gunships that were on station on the night of 28 April 1971 near An Khe, Republic of Vietnam, may have been from the 7th Squadron, 17th Air Cavalry — your unit — rather than from my father’s unit, D Troop, 1st Squadron, 10th Cavalry Regiment.

On the night of 28 April 1971, a six-man Ranger team — Team 12, 1st Platoon, C Company (Ranger), 75th Infantry (Airborne) — was inserted approximately 20 kilometers northwest of An Khe. The team was surrounded by an estimated 40 to 60 NVA soldiers and within minutes of being overrun. Two AH-1 Cobra gunships were providing aerial fire support. Both Cobras expended their ordnance and fuel and were forced to break station.

WO1 Robert Lloyd Adams II, Pilot in Command of UH-1H Huey Shamrock 28, descended without orders into the active firefight on a moonless night with no instruments and no lights, located the team by a single strobe flash, held a sustained combat hover under continuous enemy fire, and extracted all six Rangers. Fuel remaining on landing was less than 80 pounds. No crew or Rangers were killed.

By April 1971, D Troop 1/10 Cav and 7/17 Cav were operating in the same An Khe area — sometimes your unit supported our missions and sometimes ours supported yours. My father believes the Cobras that night may have been from 7/17 Cav. When he returned to base after the extraction, the Cobras were not at the D Troop fuel point — suggesting they refueled elsewhere.

The morning after — 29 April 1971 — an unknown major flew a Cobra to D Troop’s area, found my father specifically, and took him back to the LZ on a Visual Reconnaissance run. My father describes him as approximately 27-28 years old, reddish blond hair, a curly mustache. He had never seen this man before. This major may be the Cobra flight lead from the night of 28 April 1971, and he may be the person who submitted the original Medal of Honor recommendation through the chain.

We are seeking any pilot or crew member from 7/17 Cav who flew Cobra gunships out of An Khe in April 1971 and may have been on station that night, any member who recalls a mission on 28 April 1971 supporting C Company 75th Rangers near An Khe, and any member who recalls a major who led Cobra operations out of An Khe in the spring of 1971.

We understand your member information is confidential. We simply ask that if you can identify relevant members, you share this letter with them and invite them to contact us directly.

My father is 78 years old. This package is being hand delivered to Congressman Whitesides’ office on Monday 29 June 2026.

With deep respect for your service and sincere gratitude,

Deborah Hanson

Daughter and Designated Representative, CW4 Robert Lloyd Adams II, USA (Ret.)

818-789-3779