Even without being under fire, I don't think most people can understand how much work and stamina that would involve. For one thing that has to be at least 8 hot refuelings, although I doubt he was in the same bird all day.
In every CMH commendation I have ever read, I have found a connecting theme. And that is these people while forced into the most extreme circumstances of the violence and chaos and insanity of war, become much more than that.
You’re right, it was incredible heroism and the crew with him were volunteers. I can’t remember where I read it but they flew the missions in either three of four different choppers because of battle damage.