U.S. airman awarded Medal of Honour - 42 years after he died in mission so secret his own sons did not know he was a hero

For more than four decades, airman Richard Etchberger’s heroic efforts to save three of his men were cloaked in secrecy.

His own three sons were even kept in the dark for much of that time over how their father died during the Vietnam War.

Finally this week, the Air Force NCO’s bravery was recognised at the White House, where he was posthumously awarded the Medal of Honour by President Obama.

‘This medal reflects the gratitude of an entire nation,’ Mr Obama told Steve, Richard and Cory Etchberger.

'Hero': President Barack Obama presents the Medal of Honor to the sons of Sgt. Richard Etchberger. R-L Richard Etchberger Corey Etchberger, and Steve Wilson, at the White House on Tuesday

In memory: Left, Richard Etchberger looks down at the Medal of Honour awarded to his father. Right, Sgt Richard Etchberger, who died saving comrades in Laos

‘Today your nation finally acknowledges and fully honours your father’s bravery,’ he added.

The reason the 1968 mission – codenamed Heavy Green – never made the headlines was because it was a highly classified attempt to provide radar information for U.S. planes bombing targets in Hanoi, North Vietnam, and along the Ho Chi Minh Trail.

Because the radar site was located on a hillside in Laos, it wasn’t officially acknowledged until 1986 because the country was considered neutral during the Vietnam War.

The NCO was a radar technician from Hamburg, Pa, one of 19 Americans hand-picked to work at the remote station atop one of the tallest mountains in Laos.

Of those 19 men, just seven survived, three of them as a result of Sgt. Etchberger’s brave actions.

When the North Vietnamese military discovered the secret U.S. position, they launched an unremitting bombardment.

‘The enemy lobbed down grenade after grenade, hour after hour,’ said Mr Obama.

Tuesday’s long-awaited ceremony in the East Room of the White House gave one of the survivors the opportunity to explain publicly for the first time how he owed his life to Chief Master Sgt. Etchberger.

Retired Technical Sgt John Daniel, now 71, said the airmen spent the night fending off the attack.

Despite having no combat training, Sgt Etchberger took charge during the attack and single-handedly defended the station while coordinating U.S. strikes and directing rescue helicopters to pick up the dead and injured.

When a helicopter arrived, he helped three comrades into slings dropped to take them from the danger zone before scrambling aboard himself.

But as the chopper began to climb, a Vietnamese soldier emptied his weapon into the underside of the craft, mortally wounding Sgt. Etchberger.

‘He was one hell of an NCO,’ said Mr Daniel. ‘You were eager to follow the man, to do what he wanted you to do.

He said it was ‘a burden’ knowing that fate spared him. ‘You say, ‘Why me? Why am I still alive? I know I would have gone if it hadn’t been for Dick getting me onto that chopper.’

Sgt Etchberger was also inducted into the Pentagon Hall of Heroes today.

‘Valour has no expiration date. Courage is timeless. And the discovery of truth, no matter how long it is delayed, sets the record straight,’ said Air Force Chief of Staff Norton Schwartz.

Mr Daniel said the airmen involved in the mission attended confidential briefings at the Pentagon in 1967.

‘It’s only fitting that we’re back in the Pentagon to finish it up and put an end to it, right where it started 43 years ago,’ he added.

Gratitude: Barack Obama and First Lady Michelle Obama - bravely teaming a green dress with pink shoes - enter the East Room of the White House for the ceremony yesterday

Solemn: Mr Obama gave a moving speech before presenting the Medal