[Congressional Bills 111th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H. Res. 1228 Introduced in House (IH)]

111th CONGRESS
  2d Session
H. RES. 1228

  Honoring the veterans of Helicopter Attack Light Squadron Three and 
                            their families.


_______________________________________________________________________


                    IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

                             March 25, 2010

 Mr. Boozman submitted the following resolution; which was referred to 
the Committee on Veterans' Affairs, and in addition to the Committee on 
   Armed Services, for a period to be subsequently determined by the 
  Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall 
           within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned

_______________________________________________________________________

                               RESOLUTION


 
  Honoring the veterans of Helicopter Attack Light Squadron Three and 
                            their families.

Whereas Helicopter Attack Light Squadron Three (hereinafter in this resolution 
        referred to as ``HAL-3'') began its history as detachments of Navy 
        Helicopter Combat Support Squadron One (HC-1) which began helicopter 
        gunship operations in support of Navy ``Brown Water'', Special 
        Operations, and Army units in the Mekong Delta of South Vietnam on 
        September 19, 1966;
Whereas the detachments of HC-1 adopted the name ``Seawolves'';
Whereas HAL-3 was officially established on April 1, 1967, in Vung Tau, South 
        Vietnam, and was the only active duty Navy helicopter gunship squadron 
        in the history of Naval Aviation;
Whereas during the squadron's existence, the nearly 3,000 veterans of HAL-3 
        displayed extraordinary courage in support of United States military and 
        political objectives in Vietnam;
Whereas 44 veterans of HAL-3 gave their lives in support of military operations 
        in the Mekong Delta, Vietnam;
Whereas the extraordinary performance of the veterans of HAL-3 earned numerous 
        unit citations including 6 Presidential Unit Citations, 13 Navy Unit 
        Commendations, 2 Meritorious Unit Commendation, a Republic of Vietnam 
        Meritorious Unit Commendation, and the Vietnam Service Medal;
Whereas the valor of the veterans of HAL-3 earned 5 Navy Crosses, 31 Silver 
        Stars, 2 Legion of Merit Medals, 5 Navy and Marine Corps Medals, 219 
        Distinguished Flying Crosses, 156 Purple Hearts, 101 Bronze Stars, 142 
        Republic of Vietnam Gallantry Crosses, over 16,000 Air Medals, 439 Navy 
        Commendation Medals, and 228 Navy Achievement Medals, making it possibly 
        the most decorated Navy squadron during the Vietnam War;
Whereas the maintenance and administrative personnel of HAL-3 contributed 
        greatly to the successes of the nine HAL-3 detachments operating 
        throughout the Mekong Delta by providing the detachments with superb 
        maintenance support and logistics;
Whereas HAL-3 flew over 130,000 hours of combat and logistical support;
Whereas HAL-3 inflicted an estimated 8,700 casualties on enemy forces;
Whereas HAL-3 performed 1,530 medical evacuations;
Whereas HAL-3 delivered over 37,000 passengers and over 1,000,000 pounds of 
        cargo; and
Whereas HAL-3 was disestablished in March 1972 at Binh Thuy, South Vietnam, as 
        part of the Vietnamization program leaving behind it a combat and 
        humanitarian record recognized as bringing great credit upon the United 
        States Navy and its role in the Vietnam War: Now, therefore, be it
    Resolved, that the House of Representatives--
            (1) honors the service, courage, and sacrifice of the 
        veterans of HAL-3;
            (2) honors the families of HAL-3 veterans for their 
        support;
            (3) expresses its condolences to the families and comrades 
        of those killed in action; and
            (4) recognizes HAL-3 as a unique squadron in the history of 
        naval aviation.
                                 <all>