NOTE: We are ONLY seeking signature support for this petition. Any donation made through this petition goes to Change.org for promotional purposes, not the Conran family.

On October 6, 1969, USAF Major Philip J. Conran, piloting a CH-3 helicopter (Knife 62), led a mission to infiltrate CIA-sponsored Red Battalion soldiers into Moung Phine, Laos, to disrupt North Vietnamese Army (NVA) supply lines along the Ho Chi Minh Trail.

After the lead helicopter was shot down by an NVA ambush, Major Conran took command, bravely landing his helicopter under heavy enemy fire to rescue the downed crew and deploy Lao soldiers.

Despite sustaining a leg wound and his helicopter being disabled, he organized a defensive perimeter and coordinated air support for six hours until 46 Lao soldiers and 8 Americans were rescued.

Although recommended and APPROVED for the Medal of Honor, his award was downgraded to the Air Force Cross due to the classified nature of the mission in Laos, as announced by President Nixon’s policy in 1969.

56 years later and Colonel Conran has yet to receive the recognition he deserves.

Unfortunately, the Senate Armed Services Committee (SASC) red-lined Colonel Conran's inclusion in the 2026 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA). This is not the first time we have been set back and it likely won't be the last but we press forward. 

Help our family make noise by signing our petition to reinstate Colonel Conran's Medal of Honor Recommendation. 

The Medal of Honor is the United States' highest and most prestigious military decoration, and awarding it to Colonel Conran would not only honor his legacy but also set a precedent for the acknowledgment of deserving veterans.



Learn more about Colonel Conran's final mission at www.philipconran.com and Conran’s Honor film