,i  #aai? ,,congress  #a/ ,session  ,h4 
,r4 #eici  ,,9 ,,! ,,h\se ,,(           
,,repres5tatives  ,novemb] #g1 #bjbe    
,mr4 ,davis ( ,nor? ,c>ol9a 7= himself &
 ,mr4 ,murphy7 introduc$ ! foll[+ bill2 
:i* 0 ref]r$ to ! ,committee on         
,f9ancial ,s]vices  ,a ,,bill  ,to aw>d 
a ,congressional ,gold ,m$al to ,unit$  
,/ates ,m>9es :o s]v$ z "p ( helicopt]  
support missions 9 ! ,vietnam ,w>4  #a4 
,%ort title ,?is ,act may be cit$ z !   
,,usmc ,helicopt] ,support 9 ,vietnam   
,congressional ,gold ,m$al ,act4  #b4   
,f9d+s  7a7 ,by ! end ( ! w> 9 ,vietnam 
9 #aige1 !re _h be5 approximately       
#cia1jjj ,u4,s4 ,m>9es & #aj1jjj ,navy  
,corpsm5 :o _h s]v$ 9 ,vietnam4 ,out (  
all ( ^! m5 x is e/imat$ t r\ghly #ij   
p]c5t ( !m s]v$ 9 ei!r ! ,fir/ or ,?ird 
,m>9e ,division1 :ile ! rema9+ #aj p]c5t
 s]v$ 9 ! ,fir/ ,m>9e ,air ,w+ 7#a/     
,,maw74  7b7 ,! #a/ ,,maw itself consi/$
 ( bo? fix$-w+ & helicopt] 7rot>y7 ,m>9e
 ,air ,gr\ps 7,,mag71 & ov] #fj p]c5t ( 
! ,m>9es & ,corpsm5 :o s]v$ 9 ! #a/     

,,maw 7 assign$ to ! ,,mag4  7c7 ,dur+  
,vietnam's #ac ye>s ( w> ! #a/ ,,maw saw
 #be ( its helicopt] squadrons deploy$  
to ,vietnam1 & by ,janu>y #aifh !re w\ld
 be #aa squadrons fly+ 9 ! c\ntry on any
 giv5 day until mid-#aiga4  7d7 ,! fir/ 
,m>9e helicopt] squadron to be deploy$  
to ,vietnam 0 ,,hmm-#cfb on ,april #ae1 
#aifb4 ,_! mission 9 ,vietnam 0 to bo?  
advise & tra91 transport troops1        
pass5g]s1 & c>go1 & to provide a]om$ical
 support to ! troops ( ! ,army ( !      
,republic ( ,vietnam 7,,arvn74  7e7 #e  
mon?s lat]1 at ! reque/ ( ! ,unit$      
,/ates ,milit>y ,assi/ance ,comm& 9     
,vietnam1 & ) ! ,m>9es hav+ mu* m       
capable aircraft & in/rum5t-qualifi$    
pilots 9 c\ntry1 ! squadron t replac$   
,,hmm-#cfb1 ,,hmm-#afc1 0 relocat$ to ! 
airfield 9 ,da ,nang4 #ba days lat]1    
trag$y /ruck :5 "o ( _! helicopt]s fly+ 
on a m$ical support mission cra%$ into a
 m\nta9side due to a me*anical problem1 
kill+ #g ( ! #h m5 abo>d4 ,! casualties 
w\ld include ! fir/ ,navy ,corpsman1    

fir/ ,navy ,flight ,surgeon1 & ! fir/   
,m>9e aircrew memb]s to die 9 ,vietnam4 
7f7 #a ye> lat] :ile fly+ on a se>* &   
rescue mission1 #b helicopt]s f yet     
ano!r ,m>9e ,squadron1 #j ,,hmm-#cfa1   
collid$ 9 mid-air :ile try+ to avoid    
gr\nd fire1 kill+ #ab m54 ,! casualties 
9 ?is mi%ap includ$ ! fir/ ,hispanic1 & 
! fir/ ,african-,am]ican ,corpsm5 to die
 9 ,vietnam1 z well z ano!r ,navy       
,flight ,surgeon & #i ,m>9es4  7g7 ,9   
,m>* ( #aife1 ^u ! ord]s ( ,presid5t    
,lyndon ,johnson1 #c1ejj ,m>9es ( ! #i? 
,m>9e ,exp$ition>y ,brigade made an     
amphibi\s l&+ on ,r$ ,bea*1 #i miles    
nor? ( ,da ,nang1 mak+ !m ! fir/ ,unit$ 
,/ates combat troops to be deploy$ to   
,vietnam4 ,) _! arrival came ! ne$ = a  
mu* l>g]1 & m div]se sy/em ( helicopt]  
support4  7h7 ,by ! "t ! la/ ,unit$     
,/ates ,m>9e gr\nd troops 7 pull$ out ( 
,vietnam1 ! numb] ( ,m>9es hav+ s]v$ 9 !
 c\ntry 0 e/imat$ to be betwe5 #ha1jjj &
 #he1jjj4 ,x 0 because ( :o & :at !y 71 
t !y 7 task$ ) conduct+ bo? l>ge & small

 scale gr\nd op]ations1 se>* & de/roy   
missions1 c\nt]9surg5cy op]ations 9 bo? 
rural & urban sett+s ?r\gh\t ! #aj1edj  
squ>e-miles ( :at 0 kn[n z ! ,,ictz1 or 
! ,i-,corps ,tactical ,zone4  7i7       
,compris$ ( ! p]haps ! #e mo/           
hotly-conte/$ prov9ces 9 all ( ,s\?     
,vietnam2 ,quang ,tri1 ,?ua ,?i51 ,quang
 ,nam1 ,quang ,t91 & ,quang ,ngai1 !    
,m>9es (t5 f\nd !mselves engag$ ) !     
enemy 9 places ^: names became synonym\s
 ) ! horrors ( ! w>4 ,^! 7 places l ,khe
 ,sanh1 ,hill #hha,s1 ,mutt]'s ,ridge1  
,! ,rockpile1 ,dong ,ha1 ,con ,?i51 ,a  
,%au ,valley1 ,phu ,bai1 ,hue1 ,m>ble   
,m\nta9s1 ,hill #ee1 ! ,que ,son        
,m\nta9s1 ,,lz ,baldy1 ,,lz ,ross1 ,an  
,hoa1 ,hoi ,an1 ,lib]ty ,bridge1 ,*u    
,lai1 & ,g ,noi ,isl&4  7j7 ,^! became !
 v places :]e ,m>9e helicopt] aircrews  
flew into1 & always hop$ t !y w\ld leave
 aga94 ,& n fe>+ to d s1 "s ( ^! places 
became ! same places :]e ! ,m>9es decid$
 to e/abli% "s ( _! helicopt] bases4    
7k7 ,f ^! bases ! helicopt] aircrews    

w\ld support ^? on ! gr\nd by fly+ l>ge 
troop ins]tions or extractions1 z well z
 l>ge civilian relocation4 ,!y also     
ins]t$ or extract$ small reconnaissance 
teams1 flew life-sav+ m$ical evacuations
 or p>ticipat$ 9 se>* & rescue missions1
 deliv]$ mu* ne$$ ammunition1 food1     
wat]1 m$ical supplies1 or mail f home   
:i* to ^? on ! gr\nd prov$ crucial      
because x impact$ bo? _! morale &       
emotional well-be+4 ,o!r missions fl[n 7
 because someone ne$$ an ov]head escort1
 a]ial reconnaissance1 t>get spott+1 a  
night "t fl>e drop1 or because a ,,vip  
ne$$ to be fl[n ar\nd4  7l7 ,no matt]   
:at ! mission 01 or :o x 0 =1 or :]e x 0
 ne$$1 !re 7 always great risks involv$4
 ,x might be f ! automatic weapons or   
small arms gr\nd fire1 mort>s1 rockets1 
l&m9es 9 ! l&+ zone1 ,,rpg's t ! enemy  
us$1 or p]haps because ( some?+ z simple
 z a b>b$ wire entanglem5t or a triple  
canopy =e/4 ,m\nta9s1 ! wea!r1 pilot    
error1 a me*anical1 electrical1 or fuel 
problem1 basically y "n x & x c\ld kill 

y4 ,b ! aircrews flew anyway4  7m7 ,!re 
0 "o mission fl[n by helicopt]s1 h[ev]1 
t n only c>ri$ ^! same risks1 b 0 also  
kn[n by intellig5ce & ! aircrew memb]s  
!mselves to be mu* m ( a prize t>get to 
! enemy1 ! ,m$evac4  7n7 ,fl[n by an    
exceptionally skill$1 calm1 decisive1   
d$icat$1 compassionate & bo? physically 
& m5tally resili5t crew consi/+ ( a     
pilot & co-pilot1 crew *ief1 two gunn]s1
 & a skill$ combat-tra9$ ,navy          
,corpsman1 !y 7 ready to fly any:]e &   
anytime1 #g days a week4 ,( note is !   
fact t ! corpsman & gunn]s all volunte]$
 to fly m$evac missions4  7o7 ,^! m$evac
 aircraft 7 normally accompani$ by a    
*ase %ip 7m9us a corpsman7 t %ad[$ !m1 &
 #b gun%ip escorts t w\ld accompany !m  
into :at _m aircrew memb]s describ$ z   
hell & back4  7p7 ,?is m$evac package ( 
#d helicopt]s & _! crews demon/rat$ !   
=esight t ! ,m>9es _h put into ^!       
packages 9 t !y 7 /rategically locat$   
?r\gh\t ! ,,ictz & 7 always ready to g4 
,to h su* a package on /&by & already 9 

place :5 a mission 0 call$ 0 consid]$   
bett] ?an try+ to piecemeal "o at ! la/ 
m9ute1 ?us endang]+ ! life ( a casualty4
 ,bullets c\ld kill1 b s c\ld a delay 9 
laun*+4  7q7 ,m$evac helicopt]s (t5 flew
 into "s ( ! mo/ =midable1 dang]\s1 &   
ho/ile environm5ts 9 all ( ,vietnam4 ,& 
z a result ( :]e !y w5t1 & :at !y 7 do+1
 !re w\ld be #bf ,m$evac ,corpsm5 :o 7  
kill$ 9 ! l9e ( duty4  7r7 ,!re 7 h[ev]1
 times :5 a m$evac helicopt] 0 n readily
 available1 :i* 9 "t s]v$ z ! impetus = 
creat+ a plan :]e ano!r ne>by helicopt] 
t 0 already task$ ) ano!r type ( mission
 w\ld be re-task$ to conduct ! mu* ne$$ 
evacuation in/ead4 ,?is 0 :at ! aircrews
 consid]$ to be a flight ( opportunity4 
7s7 ,^? :o 7 be+ evacuat$ 7 usually     
,unit$ ,/ates ,m>9es1 ,s\? ,korean      
,m>9es 7,r,o,ks7 ,,arvn ,troop]s1 or !  
occasional ,vietnamese civilian :o 0    
sick1 w\nd$1 or (t5times deceas$4 ,"s   
evacuees 7 c>ri$ on1 :ile "s walk$ on1 &
 !re 7 also ^? :o _h to be hoi/$ up into
 ! helicopt] 9 a /ret*]1 or on a jungle 

p5etrator4 ,9 any case1 because ! pilots
 7 always aw>e ( ! gold5 h\r !y w\ld (t5
 in=m ! corpsman 9 ! back h[ soon x w\ld
 be until !y w\ld t\* d[n4  7t7 ,dep5d+ 
on ! circum/ance ( ! evacuation1 !      
evacuee or evacuees w\ld ei!r be fl[n to
 ! #gjj-;b$ ,naval ,support ,activity   
hospital 9 ,da ,nang1 or to :i*ev]      
,unit$ ,/ates ,navy hospital %ip l !    
#gej-;b$ ,repose1 or ! #ghf-;b$         
,sanctu>y1 ei!r :i* 0 9 ! ,da ,nang     
h>bor at ! "t4 ,sometimes x 0 to ei!r ! 
#a/ or #crd ,m$ical ,battalion1 or !    
civilian hospital 9 ,da ,nang4 ,x is    
difficult to =get t among/ all ( ! o!r  
missions t ! aircrew memb]s flew1 ^? 7  
^? missions t c>ri$ ! bodies ( _m ( !   
#ah1hdd ,m>9es & #fde ,navy ,corpsm5 :o 
lo/ _! lives 9 ,vietnam4 ,^! missions   
w\ld take !m directly to ,graves        
,regi/ration4  7u7 ,! aircrews believ$ t
 ^? :o 7 on ! gr\nd expect$ helicopt]   
support1 t !y ne$$ helicopt] support1 & 
because ( ?is1 !y made sure t !y receiv$
 helicopt] support4  7v7 ,!re 0 a say+ t

 w5t t ^? :o flew did s outside ! wire  
:ile ^? :o nev] flew /ay$ inside ! wire4
 ,^! 7 ^? "y m51 :o 9 _! own specializ$ 
way1 support$ bo? ^? ,m>9es :o flew & ^?
 ,m>9es :o 7 out 9 ! bu%4  7w7 ,^! 7 !  
=gott5 h]oes ( ! #a/ ,,maw4 ,!y 7 ! m5  
:o ma9ta9$1 s]vic$1 & repair$ !         
helicopt]s1 fuel$ !m & arm$ !m1 work$ 9 
air traffic control1 ma9ta9$ ! runway1 !
 hoot*es1 ! adm9 build+s1 ! clubs1 cook$
 ! meals1 did ! pap]work1 /udi$ !       
intellig5ce1 work$ 9 base security1     
drove ! vehicles on & (f base1 & l !    
*apla9s1 pray$ = ev]yone4  7x7 ,by ! end
 ( ! w>1 ! ,m>9es w\ld lose #bhj ( _!   
helicopt]s & #hde ( _! helicopt] crew   
memb]s & pass5g]s 9 ,vietnam4 ,n        
quantifi$ any:]e1 h[ev]1 is ! exact     
numb] ( ^? ,m>9es on base :o 7 kill$ &  
did n fly4  7y7 ,! helicopt] aircrews ( 
! #a/ ,,maw :o flew 9 ,vietnam betwe5   
#aifb & #aige transport$ m ?an          
#c1baj1jjj troops & pass5g]s1 flew m ?an
 #a1fjj1jjj v>i\s sorties1 deliv]$ m ?an
 #cch1jjj tons ( c>go1 & m$ically       

evacuat$ approximately #ahi1jjj pati5ts4
  7z7 ,b x 0 ! =m] ,comm&ant ( ! ,m>9e  
,corps1 ,g5]al ,leon>d ,f4 ,*apman1 :o  
be/ summ>iz$ :at helicopt] support meant
 to ! ,m>9es on ! gr\nd 9 ,vietnam :5 he
 /at$ t ,:5 a ,m>9e 9 ,vietnam is w\nd$1
 surr\nd$1 hungry1 l[ on ammunition or  
wat]1 he looks to ! sky1 he kn[s !      
*opp]s are com+4  #c4 ,congressional    
gold m$al  7a7 ,pres5tation au?oriz$ ,! 
,speak] ( ! ,h\se ( ,repres5tatives & ! 
,presid5t pro tempore ( ! ,s5ate %all   
make appropriate arrangem5ts = !        
pres5tation1 on behalf ( ,congress1 ( a 
s+le gold m$al ( appropriate design 9   
honor ( ! ,m$evac ,m>9es & ,navy        
,corpsm5 ( ! ,vietnam ,w>1 collectively1
 9 recognition ( _! h]oic milit>y       
s]vice1 :i* sav$ c\ntless lives &       
contribut$ directly to ! def5se ( !     
,unit$ ,/ates4  7b7 ,design & /rik+ ,=  
purposes ( ! pres5tation ref]r$ to 9    
subsection 7a71 ! ,secret>y ( !         
,treasury 7ref]r$ to 9 ?is ,act z !     
,secret>y7 %all /rike a gold m$al )     

suitable emblems1 devices1 &            
inscriptions1 to be det]m9$ by !        
,secret>y1 9 consultation ) ! ,secret>y 
( ,def5se4  7c7 ,unit$ ,/ates ,navy     
,m$ical ,dep>tm5t ,museum  7#a7 ,9 g5]al
 ,foll[+ ! aw>d ( ! gold m$al 9 honor ( 
! ,m$evac ,m>9es & ,navy ,corpsm5 ( !   
,vietnam ,w>1 ! gold m$al %all be giv5  
to ! ,national ,museum ( ! ,unit$ ,/ates
 ,navy1 :]e x w be available = display z
 appropriate & available = rese>*4  7#b7
 ,s5se ( ,congress ,x is ! s5se (       
,congress t ! ,national ,museum ( !     
,unit$ ,/ates ,navy %\ld make ! gold    
m$al aw>d$ pursuant to ?is ,act         
available = display else:]e1 p>ticul>ly 
at appropriate locations associat$ ) !  
,vietnam ,w>1 & t pref]5ce %\ld be giv5 
to locations affiliat$ ) ! ,national    
,museum ( ! ,unit$ ,/ates ,navy4  #d4   
,duplicate m$als ,! ,secret>y may /rike 
& sell duplicates 9 bronze ( ! gold m$al
 /ruck "u section #c1 at a price        
suffici5t to cov] ! co/s ( ! m$als1     
includ+ labor1 mat]ials1 dies1 use (    

ma*9]y1 & ov]head exp5ses4  #e4 ,/atus (
 m$als  7a7 ,national m$al ,m$als /ruck 
pursuant to ?is ,act are national m$als 
= purposes ( *apt] #ea ( title #ca1     
,unit$ ,/ates ,code4  7b7 ,numismatic   
items ,= purposes ( section #eacd &     
section #eacf ( title #ca1 ,unit$ ,/ates
 ,code1 all m$als /ruck "u ?is ,act %all
 be consid]$ to be numismatic items4    
#f4 ,au?ority to use fund am\nts1       
proce$s ( sale  7a7 ,au?ority ,to use   
fund am\nts ,!re is au?oriz$ to be *>g$ 
aga9/ ! ,unit$ ,/ates ,m9t ,public      
,ent]prise ,fund su* am\nts z may be    
necess>y to pay = ! co/s !re( /ruck "u  
?is ,act4  7b7 ,proce$s ( sale ,am\nts  
receiv$ f ! sale ( duplicate bronze     
m$als au?oriz$ "u section #d %all be    
deposit$ into ! ,unit$ ,/ates ,m9t      
,public ,ent]prise ,fund4