| Dear Colleagues:
Congratulations on House and Senate passage of the Fiscal Year
2006 Defense Authorization bill. You all worked diligently to shepherd
through the House and Senate bi-partisan legislation with many
important provisions benefitting our troops.
As you proceed to conference, we recommend your close attention to language
included in the House-passed bill (Section 566 - Establishment of Combat
Medevac Badge) which recognizes the combat service of helicopter medical
evacuation ambulance pilots and crews - crews that served in extraordinarily
hazardous circumstances in Korea, Vietnam, and subsequently. We urge
retention of this provision which provides for the creation of a new "Combat
Medevac Badge" to be awarded to such crews, commonly referred to
as "Dustoff" crews, in recognition of their service.
These heroic Americans have served with distinction in combat
situations while providing medical assistance. Dustoff crews flew
nearly a half-million missions and evacuated more than 900,000
military personnel and Vietnamese civilians between 1962 and 1973.
The names of 214 Dustoff pilots and crewmen who made the ultimate
sacrifice are etched on the Wall of the Vietnam Veterans Memorial.
We urge you to join us in properly recognizing helicopter medical
evacuation pilots and crew members by retaining the House-passed
language that creates the Combat Medevac Badge.
Thank you for your attention to this important item. We commend
you on your efforts to date and look forward to working with you
in the coming weeks in support of passage of the Defense Authorization
bill.
Sincerely, |