Maxwell Air Force Base Gunter Annex in Montgomery County, Alabama — The American South (East South Central)

Award of Air Force Cross to Eugene L. Clay

Photographed by Mark Hilton, June 23, 2016

1. Award of Air Force Cross to Eugene L. Clay Marker

Inscription.
Citation to Accompany the Award of
The Air Force Cross
to
Eugene L. Clay
Staff Sergeant Eugene L. Clay distinguished himself by extraordinary heroism in connection with military operations against an opposing armed force as an HH-3E Flight Engineer in Southeast Asia on 9 November 1967. On that date, Sergeant Clay attempted the night extraction of a ground reconnaissance team after his helicopter had been severely damaged. Two other helicopters had been shot down and a third extensively damaged in previous attempts. During the rescue attempt, Sergeant Clay unhesitatingly exposed himself to hostile fire to assist the survivors to the aircraft. The hostile forces closed in quickly, and as the damaged helicopter departed, it was shot down. Through his extraordinary heroism, superb airmanship, and aggressiveness, Sergeant Clay reflected the highest credit upon himself and the United States Air Force.

Erected 2005 by Maxwell-Gunter AFSNCOA Class 05-B.

Topics and series. This memorial is listed in these topic lists: Air & Space • War, Vietnam. In addition, it is included in the Distinguished Service Cross/Navy Cross/Air Force Cross Recipients series list.

Location.

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32° 24.255′ N, 86° 14.967′ W. Memorial is in Maxwell Air Force Base Gunter Annex, Alabama, in Montgomery County. It can be reached from the intersection of McDonald Street and Avenue D. Located at the USAF Senior NCO Academy & Enlisted Heritage Hall at the Gunter Annex and requires base access. Touch for map. Memorial is at or near this postal address: 550 McDonald St, Montgomery AL 36114, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this memorial is in Alabama’s Tri-Counties River Region.

It is also in the American South,

specifically in the Deep South,

and in the Black Belt.

Globally, it is in North America,

a Gulf of Mexico state,

the Western Hemisphere,

the Western World,

and the Anglosphere.

Historically, it finds itself in what was once the territory of the Mississippian Culture,

one of the Confederate States of America,

and the Antebellum South.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker: Award of Air Force Cross to Dennis M. Richardson (here, next to this marker); Award of Air Force Cross to Russell M. Hunt (here, next to this marker); Award of Air Force Cross to Larry W. Maysey (here, next to this marker); Award of Air Force Cross to Richard L. Etchberger (here, next to this marker); Award of Air Force Cross to Duane D. Hackney (here, next to this marker); Award of Air Force Cross to William H. Pitsenbarger (here, next to this marker); Award of Air Force Cross to Thomas A. Newman (here, next to this marker); Award of Air Force Cross to Nacey Kent Jr (here, next to this marker). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Maxwell Air Force Base Gunter Annex.

Regarding Award of Air Force Cross to Eugene L. Clay. On Nov. 9, 1967, SSgt. Eugene L. Clay, a flight engineer with the 37th ARRS, and the crew of HH-3 Jolly Green 26 attempted to extract a ground reconnaissance team at

Wide view of AF Cross memorial plaques. image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Mark Hilton, June 23, 2016

2. Wide view of AF Cross memorial plaques.

night during heavy enemy fire. Another Jolly Green picked up three recon members before it was driven off by hostile fire. As Jolly Green 26 attempted to pick up the remaining two recon troops, hostile fire continued. Clay assisted in getting the recon members on board, but the rescue chopper was hit by automatic weapons fire and burst into flames. The conflagration killed Clay, two other crew members (including the other enlisted Air Force Cross recipient on the mission, Sgt. Larry W. Maysey), and the two recon team members.

Sergeant Clay was awarded the Air Force Cross posthumously, and his remains were never recovered.

Related marker. Click here for another marker that is related to this marker. Also killed, and a recipient of the AF Cross, was the pararescueman on board, Larry Maysey.

Eugene Lunsford Clay image. Click for full size.

Photographed by USAF Photo

3. Eugene Lunsford Clay

AF Cross exhibit located at nearby Enlisted Heritage Hall. image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Mark Hilton, June 23, 2016

4. AF Cross exhibit located at nearby Enlisted Heritage Hall.

Credits. This page was last revised on March 30, 2025. It was originally submitted on June 30, 2016, by Mark Hilton of Montgomery, Alabama. This page has been viewed 633 times since then and 18 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3, 4. submitted on June 30, 2016, by Mark Hilton of Montgomery, Alabama.