Ran across a Seawolf Pilot awarded the Navy Cross prior to HA(L)-3

[Dan Arnes]

I ran across a website for Navy recipients of the Navy Cross awarded in Vietnam:

Navy Recipients of Navy Cross in Vietnam

In addition to our 5 HA(L)-3 recipients, just above Norm Stayton's citation was a name that sounded familiar, for a rescue 30 miles south of Hanoi!
SPARKS, NEIL ROLEY, JR. LTJG
Citation:
The President of the United States takes pleasure in presenting the Navy Cross to Neil Roley Sparks, Jr. (629516), Lieutenant, Junior Grade, U.S. Navy, for extraordinary heroism in aerial flight on 17 July 1967 as Aircraft Commander of an armored helicopter in Helicopter Anti-Submarine Squadron TWO (HS-2), during a search and rescue mission over North Vietnam. Lieutenant Sparks courageously penetrated the coastal defenses of North Vietnam to rescue a downed naval aviator in a heavily defended area thirty miles south of Hanoi. Although the helicopter was hit by intense and accurate enemy fire, disabling the radios, automatic stabilization equipment, and airspeed indicator, he skillfully hovered for twenty minutes until the survivor was safely hoisted aboard. Under intense antiaircraft fire, Lieutenant Sparks, through adept maneuvering, prevented further damage to the helicopter during the flight back to the coastline. Two and one-half hours after penetrating the coastal defense over North Vietnam, and having traveled two hundred miles over heavily-fortified hostile territory, he brought his crew and the downed aviator to safety. By his courageous actions, exceptional skill and fearless devotion to duty, Lieutenant Sparks prevented the capture by hostile forces of a fellow aviator, thereby upholding the highest traditions of the United States Naval Service.
Authority: Navy Department Board of Decorations and Medals

Neil later went to HA(L)-3, as the last OinC of Det 7, 10/16/1971 to 2/27/1972.

There were a few other citations that mentioned Seawolf helicopters saving the day for other recipients.

Dan