After many years of “walking the halls” and “sending letters” and educating our representatives and senators in Washington D.C., the President signed into law the award of the Congressional Gold Medal for ALL DUSTOFF/MEDEVAC crews who served so valiantly in the Vietnam War. Over 900,000 patients were evacuated at a cost of 215 DUSTOFF/MEDEVAC crewmembers and a large number of Hueys that were damaged on missions.
Now that the bill has been signed the process moves to a design process headed up by the U.S. Mint. One Gold Medallion will be struck. The current legislation places its display location to be the AMEDD Museum on Fort Sam Houston. Individuals who served in Vietnam as crewmembers may purchase a medallion from the US Mint. Since this is an award for a group/population of Americans it is not going to be reflected on anyone’s personal Army records. The greatest recognition and probably the most relevant honor is that FINALLY the Nation’s Legislature recognized the extraordinary valor and sacrifice by these crewmembers.
A copy of the White House announcement can be seen by CLICKING HERE.