WASHINGTON – U.S. Senators Bill Cassidy, M.D. (R-LA), John Cornyn (R-TX), and Elizabeth Warren (D-MA) applauded the passage of their bill to collectively award a group of Vietnam War veterans known as “Dustoff Crews” with the Congressional Gold Medal. The bill passed the Senate with overwhelming bipartisan support.
“The Dustoff Crews during the Vietnam War saved thousands of lives by risking their own,” said Dr. Cassidy. “The Senate voted overwhelmingly to honor them for their courage and service. It’s well deserved.”
“The U.S. Army Dustoff Crews who served during the Vietnam War risked their lives to rescue countless soldiers, sailors, and airmen who may have otherwise died on the battlefield,” said Senator Cornyn. “It’s not often that 71 Senators agree, and I can think of few reasons more deserving of broad bipartisan support than recognizing these American heroes for their tremendous courage.”
“During the Vietnam War, members of Dustoff Crews risked their own lives to rescue and provide critical care to wounded American soldiers,” said Senator Warren.“This bill will recognize the heroic and life-saving actions of these service members by awarding them with the Congressional Gold Medal.”
Cassidy, Cornyn, and Warren were joined in cosponsoring the bill by U.S. Senators Ted Cruz (R-TX), Bob Casey (D-PA), Marsha Blackburn (R-TN), Catherine Cortez Masto (D-NV), Maggie Hassan (D-NH), Steve Daines (R-MT), Lindsey Graham (R-SC), John Thune (R-SD), Peter Welch (D-VT), Jerry Moran (R-KS), Richard Blumenthal (D-CT), Chris Van Hollen (D-MD), Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI), Tim Kaine (D-VA), Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH), Gary Peters (D-MI), Raphael Warnock (D-GA), Cindy Hyde-Smith (R-MS), Marco Rubio (R-FL), Katie Britt (R-AL), John Fetterman (D-PA), Jon Ossoff (D-GA), Alex Padilla (D-CA), Jacky Rosen (D-NV), Jeff Merkley (D-OR), Amy Klobuchar (D-MN), Mazie Hirono (D-HI), Mike Braun (R-IN), Chris Coons (D-DE), Tom Cotton (R-AR), Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY), Angus King (I-ME), Thom Tillis (R-NC), Mitt Romney (R-UT), Ron Wyden (D-OR), Kyrsten Sinema (I-AZ), Markwayne Mullin (R-OK), Bill Hagerty (R-TN), Dan Sullivan (R-AK), Ben Cardin (D-MD), Jon Tester (D-MT), Tammy Baldwin (D-WI), Lisa Murkowski (R-AK), Susan Collins (R-ME), Roger Wicker (R-MS), Josh Hawley (R-MO), Kevin Cramer (R-ND), John Barrasso (R-WY), Eric Schmitt (R-MO), Jim Risch (R-ID), Pete Ricketts (R-NE), Shelley Moore Capito (R-WV), John Hoeven (R-ND), James Lankford (R-OK), Rick Scott (R-FL), Deb Fischer (R-NE), Mike Rounds (R-SD), Mark Kelly (D-AZ), Tim Scott (R-SC), Tom Carper (D-DE), Patty Murray (D-WA), Joni Ernst (R-IA), Tammy Duckworth (D-IL), Martin Heinrich (D-NM), Todd Young (R-IN), Sherrod Brown (D-OH), Chris Murphy (D-CT), and the late Dianne Feinstein (D-CA).
Companion legislation was introduced in the U.S. House of Representatives by U.S. Representatives Derek Kilmer (D-WA-06) and Cathy McMorris Rodgers (R-WA-05).
Background
This year marks the 51st anniversary of the Paris Peace Accords, which ended U.S. combat operations in the Vietnam War. The moniker “Dustoff” refers to the radio call sign of the helicopter-borne medical evacuation teams that landed in hostile conditions to save wounded Americans and our South Vietnamese allies. Between 1962 through 1973, Dustoff crews were responsible for transporting 17,700 United States casualties. During this period, soldiers assigned to Dustoff crews had a one-in-three chance of being wounded or killed.
This bill is supported by the Veterans of Foreign Wars, American Legion, AMVETS, Association of the United States Army, Army Aviation Association of America, DUSTOFF Association, and Vietnam Dustoff Association.
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