[Congressional Record Volume 156, Number 99 (Tuesday, June 29, 2010)]
[House]
[Pages H4918-H4919]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
HONORING VETERANS OF HELICOPTER ATTACK LIGHT SQUADRON THREE
Mr. FILNER. Madam Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and agree to
the resolution (H. Res. 1228) honoring the veterans of Helicopter
Attack Light Squadron Three and their families, as amended.
The Clerk read the title of the resolution.
The text of the resolution is as follows:
H. Res. 1228
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, 7 Navy Unit Commendations, 1 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 several thousand 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.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentleman from
California (Mr. Filner) and the gentleman from Indiana (Mr. Buyer) each
will control 20 minutes.
The Chair recognizes the gentleman from California.
General Leave
Mr. FILNER. Madam Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members
may have 5 legislative days in which to revise and extend their remarks
and include extraneous material on House Resolution 1228, as amended.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the
gentleman from California?
There was no objection.
Mr. FILNER. Madam Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
Madam Speaker, I want to thank first the Committee on Armed Services
for working with us to bring this bill to the floor. This resolution
recognizes and honors the veterans of Helicopter Attack Light Squadron
Three and their families and is sponsored by Mr. Boozman of Arkansas.
The resolution recognizes the extraordinary courage of the nearly 3,000
veterans of Helicopter Attack Light Squadron Three, also known as HAL-
3, who served in Vietnam from 1967 to March of 1972.
The resolution also serves to honor the enormous sacrifice of the 44
members of HAL-3 who gave their lives while serving alongside their
comrades in support of military operations in the Mekong Delta,
Vietnam. This remarkable unit earned six Presidential Unit Citations,
five Navy Crosses, 31 Silver Stars, 219 Distinguished Flying Crosses,
and 156 Purple Hearts, among numerous other awards and unit citations,
making it possibly the most decorated Navy squadron during the Vietnam
War.
Between 1967 and 1972, HAL-3 flew over 130,000 hours of combat and
logistical support, inflicted thousands of casualties on enemy forces,
performed 1,530 medical evacuations, carried more than 37,000
passengers, and delivered more than 1 million pounds of cargo to their
destinations. The unit's expert maintenance and support personnel
worked tirelessly to ensure that the squadron's aircraft were
operationally ready and that its crews were provided with the daily
support needed to accomplish their dangerous and critically important
missions.
This resolution serves to honor the families of the HAL-3 veterans
for their support and to express our condolences to the families and
comrades of those killed in action. Helicopter Attack Light Squadron
Three left behind a combat and humanitarian record recognized as
bringing great credit upon the United States Navy and its role in the
Vietnam War. Passing this resolution is the least we can do to honor
the service and enormous sacrifice of the Americans that constituted
such a valorous unit in naval aviation history.
House Committee on Armed Services, House of
Representatives,
Washington, DC, June 28, 2010.
Hon. Bob Filner,
Chairman, Committee on Veterans' Affairs, House of
Representatives, Washington, DC.
Dear Chairman Filner: I am writing to you concerning H.
Res. 1228, honoring the veterans of Helicopter Attack Light
Squadron Three and their families. This measure 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.
Our Committee recognizes the importance of H. Res. 1228,
and the need for the legislation to move expeditiously.
Therefore, while we have a valid claim to jurisdiction over
this legislation, the Committee on Armed Services will waive
further consideration of H. Res. 1228. I do so with the
understanding that by waiving consideration of the
resolution, the Committee on Armed Services does not waive
any future jurisdictional claim over the subject matters
contained in the
[[Page H4919]]
resolution which fall within its Rule X jurisdiction.
Please place this letter and a copy of your response into
the Congressional Record during consideration of the measure
on the House floor. Thank you for the cooperative spirit in
which you have worked regarding this matter and others
between our respective committees.
Very truly yours,
Ike Skelton,
Chairman.
____
Committee on Veterans' Affairs,
House of Representatives,
Washington, DC, June 28, 2010.
Hon. Ike Skelton,
Chairman, Committee on Armed Services, House of
Representatives, Washington, DC.
Dear Chairman Skelton: Thank you for your letter regarding
House Resolution 1228, ``Honoring the veterans of Helicopter
Attack Light Squadron Three and their families.'' The measure
was referred to the Committee on Veterans' Affairs and
sequentially referred to the Committee on Armed Services.
I agree that the Committee on Armed Services has certain
valid jurisdictional claims to this resolution, and I
appreciate your decision to waive further consideration of H.
Res. 1228 in the interest of expediting consideration of this
important measure. I agree that by agreeing to waive further
consideration, the Committee on Armed Services is not waiving
its jurisdictional claims over similar measures in the
future.
During consideration of this measure on the House floor, I
will ask that this exchange of letters be included in the
Congressional Record.
Sincerely,
Bob Filner,
Chairman.
Madam Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
Mr. BUYER. Madam Speaker, at this point I would like to yield such
time as he may consume to the author of this legislation, H.R. 1228,
Dr. Boozman of Arkansas. He was former chairman and now ranking member
of the Economic Opportunity Subcommittee of the House Veterans' Affairs
Committee.
Mr. BOOZMAN. I want to thank Ranking Member Buyer for yielding, and
then also I want to thank the chairman, Mr. Filner, and Ranking Member
Buyer for allowing us to bring this resolution forward.
Madam Speaker, I was proud to introduce House Resolution 1228,
honoring the veterans of Helicopter Attack Light Squadron Three and
their families to recognize the veterans' sacrifices and service to
America during the Vietnam War.
Despite the controversy surrounding the Vietnam War, most of the
officers and enlisted men who served in the HAL-3 were volunteers. Most
of the pilots were fresh out of flight training in Pensacola and most
of the junior enlisted were recent graduates of Navy boot camp and
technical training schools. Their leaders were also new to combat,
coming mostly from shipped-based helicopter squadrons normally assigned
to track submarines and haul supplies.
HAL-3 fought from 1967 to 1972. In that time, they earned the respect
of Army and Navy units throughout the Mekong Delta for their courage
under fire and their dedication to supporting their comrades on the
ground and in small boats patrolling the canals and rivers. They
supported Army troop insertions and extractions. Navy SEALs counted on
their support in tight situations. Wounded sailors and soldiers
benefited from battlefield medivacs. In short, the Seawolves mastered
every form of combat helicopter operations.
Here are some of the statistics from the resolution: the nine
detachments and home guard of HAL-3 flew 130,000 flight hours in 5
years. They performed 1,530 medical evacuations, inflicted thousands of
casualties on enemy forces, transported 37,000 passengers, and hauled a
million pounds of cargo. In accomplishing those milestones with a fleet
of castoff gun ships and a few slicks, the veterans of HAL-3 were
awarded 156 Purple Hearts, five Navy Crosses, 31 Silver Stars, 219
Distinguished Flying Crosses, 101 Bronze Stars, 142 Vietnam Gallantry
Crosses, 16,000 Air Medals, and numerous other awards, including six
Presidential Unit Citations, the highest recognition given to military
units.
Like any combat operation, there was a cost; 44 Seawolves lost their
lives and are among the 58,000 immortalized on the Vietnam Memorial.
Today, the children and grandchildren of those brave souls can be
justifiably proud of the heritage of courage and sacrifice of their
fathers and grandfathers.
Madam Speaker, I would especially like to mention citizens of
Arkansas who served with HAL-3: George Blackwell, Frank W. Butler,
Wayne Campbell, Johnny P. Cruse, James L. Keyes, Terry A. McMellon,
William J. Mulcahy, Charles Osborne, James N. Prater, and Mack Thomas.
It's been an honor to bring this resolution honoring the HAL-3
Seawolves to the House, and I strongly urge my colleagues to add their
names to the roster of those recognizing these American sailors.
{time} 1230
Mr. BUYER. I yield myself such time as I may consume.
(Mr. BUYER asked and was given permission to revise and extend his
remarks.)
Mr. BUYER. I thank the gentleman for bringing this.
I also want to recognize Hoosiers who also shared danger of combat
above the rice paddies and the forests of the Mekong Delta; those who
served with HAL-3 from Indiana: J. Howard Cook, Rick Hodge, Melvin
Howell, Thomas H. Jackson, Robert L. Redman, and Jay Wakeland.
Madam Speaker, I rise in support of House Resolution 1228, Honoring
the Veterans of Helicopter Attack Light Squadron Three and Their
Families and want to express my appreciation to Dr. Boozman for
introducing this resolution.
This weekend, we celebrate the 234th anniversary of the signing of
the Declaration of Independence. Over the years, our freedoms and the
interests of the United States have been defended by over 40 million
men and women and of those, over 1 million have died and 1.6 million
have been wounded. I find it ironic that something as beautiful as
freedom must be maintained by something as horrible as war.
Within those millions, there is a small group of Navy veterans who
hold a unique place in the Navy's history. Those are the veterans of
Helicopter Attack Squadron Three, better known as the HAL-3 Seawolves,
the only active duty attack helicopter squadron in the Navy's history.
Using hand-me-down Army UH-1B gunships, Seawolf pilots and gunners
provided air cover for Navy and Army brown water units in the Mekong
Delta of Vietnam. From the squadron's commissioning in 1967 to its
decommissioning in 1972, nearly 3,000 sailors wore the black beret of
HAL-3, and 44 of those courageous combat veterans are listed among the
dead on the Vietnam War Memorial here in Washington. Another 156 were
awarded the Purple Heart for their wounds.
These veterans came from every state and every socio-economic
background. Most were in their late teens and twenties. Among the
officers, most wore the silver bars of a lieutenant junior grade. Most
of the enlisted men were airmen and junior petty officers. They were
lead by a core of officers and Chief Petty Officers who cared for them,
trained them, and shared the dangers of combat above the rice paddies
and forests of the Mekong Delta. The sailors who provided maintenance
and administrative support to the flight crews were essential to
keeping the helicopters flying and are equally worthy of our
recognition.
I would especially like to recognize several Hoosiers who served in
HAL-3: J. Howard Cook, Rick Hodge, Melvin Howell, Thomas H. Jackson,
Robert L. Redman, Jay Wakeland.
Madam Speaker, House Resolution honors the service of all the
veterans of HAL-3 and the families of these veterans for their support.
We also express our condolences to the families of those 44 who gave
the full measure of devotion and finally recognize the Seawolves'
unique place in Naval Aviation.
I yield back the balance of my time.
Mr. FILNER. Madam Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. The question is on the motion offered by the
gentleman from California (Mr. Filner) that the House suspend the rules
and agree to the resolution, H. Res. 1228, as amended.
The question was taken.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. In the opinion of the Chair, two-thirds
being in the affirmative, the ayes have it.
Mr. FILNER. Madam Speaker, on that I demand the yeas and nays.
The yeas and nays were ordered.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to clause 8 of rule XX and the
Chair's prior announcement, further proceedings on this motion will be
postponed.
____________________