Gulf War Marine Honored for His Helicopter Heroics : Bravery: Aviator led a gunship attack against Iraqis. Coast Guard crew also is honored for saving fishermen.

Marine Capt. Steven Rudder, a veteran of the Persian Gulf War, gives a straight answer when asked what he enjoys most about flying an AH-1W Cobra attack helicopter.

“Flying a night mission, with four Cobras, using night-vision goggles and go deliver ordnance on a target. It doesn’t get much better than that,” he said.

Rudder, 30, is assigned to Marine Light Helicopter Squadron 367 at Camp Pendleton. The unit flies Cobra gunships armed with a deadly array of weapons that include 2.75-inch rockets, a 20-millimeter gun and TOW and Hellfire missiles, which are used against enemy armor and bunkers.

A Marine pilot for five years, Rudder proved his flying skill in combat and countless training missions, where pilots learn to react automatically to dozens of possible situations.

On Friday, Rudder’s derring-do was recognized by the Naval Helicopter Assn. as its pilot of the year at the group’s annual gathering at the Town & Country Hotel in Mission Valley. The group awarded Rudder its Aviator’s Valor Award.

The association based its recognition on an incident during the Gulf War that resulted in a recommendation by Rudder’s superiors that he be awarded the Silver Star for bravery. That recommendation is still being reviewed in Washington.

According to the association’s valor citation, on the morning of Feb. 25, 1991, Rudder led a flight of four Cobras that scrambled to support a Marine armored unit, whose command post was in danger of being overrun by a strong Iraqi armored column in Kuwait.

“Rudder coolly directed the engagement and destruction of five tanks, six armored personnel carriers and one truck,” the citation said. “Following the destruction of these targets, hundreds of Iraqi soldiers left their trench lines and bunkers and began surrendering.”

However, the Iraqis regrouped and counterattacked, supported by additional armor. When Rudder’s flight arrived to support the forward Marine units, the Cobras were met by anti-aircraft fire that included surface-to-air missiles and rocket-propelled grenades.

Two of Rudder’s helicopters were lured into a trap and came under intense ground fire. According to the citation, Rudder saw the gunships were having a difficult time disengaging. So, he positioned his Cobra between the Iraqi gunners and the two Marine helicopters, giving the other Marines a chance to escape.

“Rudder fearlessly and selflessly placed himself in unbelievable danger to allow the lead section to escape by drawing the enemy fire onto his own aircraft. . . . At great personal risk, Rudder continued to press the attack, eventually silencing an anti-aircraft gun position and inflicting heavy casualties on the Iraqi infantry,” the citation said.

On Friday, the Canton, Conn., native talked about last year’s engagement matter-of-factly, without bravado or apologies.

“That’s what we were there for, to support Marine ground units and to kill the enemy. To put it simply, that’s our job,” Rudder said.

Also honored Friday were five Coast Guard helicopter crewmen, who performed a dangerous nighttime rescue in 35-foot seas in frigid waters off the Alaskan coast. Lt. Cmdr. Clifford K. Comer, Lt. J.G. Bob P. Yerex, electrician’s mate Dave F. Schron, aviation mechanic Jeff C. Waite and aviation survivalman Gary L. Strebe rescued four fishermen from the Dora H. last May.

In addition to the frigid waters and high seas, the Coast Guardsmen braved wind gusts of 45 knots to rescue the fishermen. Weather conditions made a sea rescue impossible, so Strebe donned protective gear and dived into the ocean to help each man into a basket that was hoisted into the Coast Guard chopper.