IV 111th CONGRESS 1st Session H. RES. 188 IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES February 25, 2009 Mr. Boozman (for himself and Mr. Buyer) submitted the following resolution; which was referred to the Committee on Armed Services RESOLUTION Honoring the service, courage, and sacrifice of the Seawolves of Helicopter Attack Light Squadron Three.

Whereas Helicopter Attack Light Squadron Three (in this resolution referred to as HAL–3) began as detachments of Navy Helicopter Combat Support Squadron One (in this resolution referred to as HC–1), which began helicopter gunship operations on September 19, 1966, in support of Army, Navy brown-water, and special operations units in the Mekong Delta of South Vietnam; 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 Navy helicopter gunship squadron in the Vietnam War; Whereas during the squadron's five-year existence, the nearly 3,000 Seawolves of HAL–3 displayed extraordinary courage in support of United States military and political objectives in Vietnam; Whereas 44 Seawolves of HAL–3 gave their lives in support of military operations in the Mekong Delta; Whereas the extraordinary performance of the Seawolves of HAL–3 earned numerous unit citations, including six Presidential Unit Citations, 13 Navy Unit Commendations, two Meritorious Unit Commendation, one Republic of Vietnam Meritorious Unit Commendation, and the Vietnam Service Medal; Whereas the valor of the Seawolves of HAL–3 earned five Navy Crosses, 31 Silver Stars, 2 Legion of Merit Medals, five Navy and Marine Corps Medals, 219 Distinguished Flying Crosses, 156 Purple Hearts, 101 Bronze Stars, 142 Republic of Vietnam Gallantry Crosses, 439 Navy Commendation Medals, 228 Navy achievement Medals, and more than 16,000 Air Medals, making it one of the most decorated Navy squadrons in 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 more than 37,000 passengers and more than 1,000,000 pounds of cargo; and Whereas HAL–3 was decommissioned 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

that the House of Representatives— (1)honors the service, courage, and sacrifice of the Seawolves of HAL–3; (2)honors the families of the Seawolves of HAL–3 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.