Dustoff Crews of the Vietnam War Congressional Gold Medal Act

Floor Speech

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Ms. WATERS. Madam Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.

Madam Speaker, I rise in support of S. 2825, the Dustoff Crews of the Vietnam War Congressional Gold Medal Act, sponsored by Senator Cornyn.

Madam Speaker, we are honoring the United States Army Dustoff crews of the Vietnam war, who came from every State in the United States, with the Congressional Gold Medal in recognition of their extraordinary heroism and lifesaving actions in Vietnam.

The Dustoff crewmen served aboard helicopter air ambulances and performed medical evacuations for almost 900,000 Americans, South Vietnamese, and other individuals from allied forces for more than 10 years.

In these efforts, they often proved to be the difference between life and death for wounded personnel. The Dustoff crews in Vietnam were innovative and resourceful. They took the new concept of helicopter medical evacuation and revolutionized it to meet the goal of quickly delivering a battlefield casualty to a hospital's operating table.

Being a member of the Dustoff crew meant that there was an inherent danger to their work and a high likelihood of being wounded or killed.

Additionally, many of the evacuations took place at night, and Dustoff crews would find themselves searching for a landing zone in complete darkness, bad weather, and mountainous terrain, all while being the target of intense enemy fire as they rescued the wounded.

Collectively, the members of the Dustoff crews earned 78 awards for their valor. The crews displayed heroism on a daily basis and were among the most highly decorated soldiers in United States history.

Today, we will vote to present them with our highest honor, the Congressional Gold Medal.

Madam Speaker, I thank the sponsors of this bill, including Mr. Kilmer.

Madam Speaker, I yield 3 minutes to the gentleman from Washington (Mr. Kilmer), who is also the sponsor of the House companion of this bill.

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Ms. WATERS. Madam Speaker, I yield an additional 1 minute to the gentleman from Washington.

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Ms. WATERS. Madam Speaker, I yield myself the balance of my time. I am so pleased and proud to be on this floor today in recognition of Vietnam-era veterans and their service to this country.

As a matter of fact, I have always felt very bad when I encountered Vietnam-era veterans and always apologized to them for the fact that they were not received back to their country in a manner that they should have been and received the resources that they deserved, having served our country.

This is a very important bill that will honor the U.S. Army Dustoff crews of the Vietnam war collectively in recognition of their extraordinary heroism, their lifesaving actions in Vietnam, and their direct contribution to the defense of the United States.

I thank Mr. Kilmer and all the other sponsors of this bill. Further, I asked my staff as we were sitting here: Were the Dustoff crews a special unit that we are honoring today? Should we be looking at other Vietnam-era veterans?

It is a question I am raising as I make this presentation today.

Mr. Speaker, I thank Mr. Kilmer so very much for his comments. I urge all of my colleagues to vote ``yes,'' and I yield back the balance of my time.

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