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Dennis Fujii first deployed to South Vietnam in 1968, he spent his first nine months assigned to the 2nd Battalion, 35th Infantry, 4th Infantry Division as an assistant machine gunner.

On his second tour, now an Sp4c., Fujii began serving as a crew chief on a UH-1H medevac helicopter. On February 18, 1971, Fujii and his crew flew across the border into Laos to evacuate wounded in support of Operation Lam Son 719. The helicopter took heavy ground fire and crash landed at LZ Ranger North.

Subsequent rescue attempts failed and Fujii spent the next two days on the hill calling in air support and artillery to hold back wave after wave of enemy trying to reach him. After two days of fighting, a helicopter finally reached Fujii, but as it departed the hill it too was also severely damaged and forced to crash land on another hill. He would spend another two full days fighting off enemy at this location before finally being rescued.

For his actions, Dennis Fujii would be awarded the Silver Star, which was later upgraded to the Distinguished Service Cross. In 2022, after a military review it was decided that Dennis Fujii's Distinguished Service Cross would be upgraded to the Medal of Honor.

Interview recorded on December 10, 2022

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