19 August

Stephen Wesley Pless is born Stephen Pollard on 6 September 1939 in Newnan, Georgia. After his parents' divorce, his mother Nancy Lassetter Pollard moves to Atlanta and remarries to Berlin Pless. Stephen is adopted by his stepfather and takes the Pless surname. He attends Decatur High School before transferring to Georgia Military Academy in College Park, graduating from that school in 1957. While a senior at Georgia Military Academy, Pless enlists in the United States Marine Corps Reserve on 6 September 1956 and serves with the 1st Motor Transport Battalion in Atlanta. After graduation, he attends recruit training and advanced combat training at Parris Island, South Carolina, finishing in October 1957. He then serves as an artillery surveyor with the 10th Marine Regiment, 2nd Marine Division until September 1958.
While attending flight training at Pensacola, Florida, Pless is commissioned as a second lieutenant on 16 September 1959. He is promoted to first lieutenant on 16 March 1960, and designated a naval aviator upon graduation from flight training on 20 April 1960. Following several posts stateside and in the Republic of Vietnam, Pless is promoted to captain on 1 July 1964. From 20 March 20 to 22 September 1967, he serves in Vietnam as Assistant Operations Officer, VMO-6, Marine Aircraft Group 36, 1st Marine Aircraft Wing. Over the course of his time in Vietnam, Pless flies a total of 780 combat missions and is the only Marine aviator awarded the Medal of Honor in the Vietnam War. After his return from Vietnam, he is promoted to major on 7 November 1967.
 
On 16 January 1969, four days before leaving office, President Lyndon Johnson presents Pless the Medal of Honor at a White House ceremony. Also receiving the Medal of Honor that day is fellow Newnan, Georgia native US Air Force pilot Lieutenant Colonel Joe Jackson. Legend states that, upon realizing that both Pless and Jackson were from the same small Georgia town, President Johnson quipped “there must be something in the water down in Newnan.”
The Department of Defense, recognizing the extreme circumstances of the helicopter rescue, awards all three of Pless’s crewmates decorations. Captain Rupert E. Fairfield, Gunnery Sergeant Leroy N. Poulson, and Lance Corporal John G. Phelps are each awarded the Navy Cross-the second highest Naval award for valor. The combined crew of four represent the most highly decorated helicopter crew to fly in the Vietnam War.
Major Stephen Pless dies in a motorcycle accident on 20 July 1969, just over six months after receiving the nation’s highest award for gallantry in action. While driving across a drawbridge which connected the city of Pensacola to Pensacola Beach, his motorcycle plunges off the end of the open bridge into the water. The center span of the bridge opened horizontally, and Pless does not realize it was open until it was too late. His body is recovered by divers seven hours later.
A complete list of his medals and decorations include the Medal of Honor, the Silver Star, the Distinguished Flying Cross, the Bronze Star, the Purple Heart, 38 Air Medals, the Navy Commendation Medal with valor device, the National Defense Service Medal, the Marine Corps Expeditionary Medal, the Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal, the Korean Order of Military Merit, the Vietnam Service Medal, and the Vietnam Campaign Medal.
I’m always open to suggestions, and I will likely cover a few Marine family members of some of you subscribers in the near future. I really enjoy interacting with you folks and seeing the growth of this channel. Please do not hesitate to send an email to [e-mail] if you’d like for me to honor you or your Marine unit, or a Marine friend or family member.
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He was an absolute badass, Oorah