Whenever troops are severely injured in battle, they’re extracted and airlifted to the nearest medical facility by MEDEVAC teams. These units, conducting “Dustoff” flights, as they were called, saved countless lives during the Vietnam War, and their efforts are soon to be recognized by the government through the Dustoff Crews of the Vietnam War Congressional Gold Medal Act.
Dustoff crews typically consisted of four members – a crew chief, a pilot, a co-pilot and a combat medic – and flew into the jungles of Vietnam on unarmed Bell UH-1 Hueys that had been modified to serve as air ambulances. They took to the skies regardless of conditions, often at risk to themselves; there was a one-in-three chance of the crews themselves being hit by enemy anti-aircraft fire, even with the red crosses painted on the exterior of their helicopters.
Over the course of the Vietnam War, MEDEVACs conducted over 496,000 missions, extracting 900,000 wounded American, Vietnamese and allied troops from life-threatening situations. The most famous was the 54th Medical Detachment, who were credited with extracting 21,435 personnel across 8,644 missions, over a 10-month period.
It’s believed approximately 3,400 Dustoff crewmen served in Vietnam. Of that total, 211 were killed in action (KIA), while another 925 were injured. Several decorations were awarded to them, including the Medal of Honor, the Distinguished Service Cross and the Silver Star.
The bill granting these brave air troops the Congressional Gold Medal, titled the Dustoff Crews of the Vietnam War Congressional Gold Medal Act, received bipartisan support. Passing the Senate in May 2024, it has since been presented to President Joe Biden, who will sign it into law.
“During the Vietnam War, millions of Americans left home to fight in muddy trenches and jungles halfway around the world,” Rep. Cathy McMorris Rodgers (R-WA) said in a statement from her office. “Many made the ultimate sacrifice. Others returned home just to be ostracized and ridiculed. Some were never recognized for their service at all. Unfortunately, that’s exactly what happened to the Dustoff crewmembers who risked their lives to save nearly one million others.
“They were some of the very best, and their heroism deserves to be recognized, which we finally did today by sending this legislation to President Biden’s desk to become law,” she continued.
Lt. Col. Steve Vermillion, a Vietnam veteran and the president of the Vietnam Dustoff Association, added in a separate statement, “The passage of this legislation marks a milestone in recognizing U.S. Army helicopter aeromedical aircrafts of the Vietnam War. These unsung aircraft risked their lives on a daily basis to save the lives of others.”
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There’s no update on when President Biden plans to sign the Vietnam War Congressional Gold Medal Act into law.