[Congressional Record Volume 166, Number 138 (Tuesday, August 4, 2020)]
[Senate]
[Pages S4721-S4722]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                              AIR AMERICA

  Mr. CASSIDY. Mr. President, I rise to speak of a largely unknown 
aspect of the Vietnam war and a too neglected aspect. I rise to 
highlight Air America and its role in military conflicts from the 1940s 
through the Cold War.
  Air America, which was previously known as the Civil Air Transport, 
operated under a shroud of mystery, intrigue, and, at times, purposeful 
deceit to allow the organization to continue covert operations. Its 
members lived the motto ``Anything, Anywhere, Anytime, 
Professionally.''
  Now, if you would look at this picture, you would think that this 
must be an Army helicopter pilot performing a rescue on an active 
battlefield. No, that pilot was a civilian. He was a contractor of 
sorts with the U.S. Government and was flying that helicopter to rescue 
that soldier or that marine, not an enlisted person. Its members, 
again, lived the motto ``Anything, Anywhere, Anytime, Professionally,'' 
including rescuing those from battlefields.
  They garnered respect as cargo and charter airline pilots during the 
Secret War in Laos in the 1960s and 1970s. As the war progressed, the 
U.S. Government increasingly relied on Air America pilots to conduct 
search-and-rescue missions of downed U.S. military pilots--often in 
heavy combat areas with no weapons of their own. The daily risks that 
they took to save others earned them the reputation as being the most 
shot at airline. I shouldn't laugh, but there is, I am sure, kind of a 
gallows humor they felt when they said that, ``the most shot at 
airline.''
  Here is a depiction of a plaque in Richardson, TX, that President 
Reagan dedicated. On it are the names of those who died as Air America 
pilots.
  At the plaque dedication in Dallas, President Ronald Reagan said: 
``Although free people everywhere owe you more than we can hope to 
repay, our greatest debt is to your companions who gave their last full 
measure of devotion.''
  While President Reagan recognized the contributions that these pilots 
made to the United States, Air America has received mixed support 
throughout its history. The Department of Defense and the CIA, among 
others, have argued that Air America pilots are not veterans, saying 
their heroic rescues of American soldiers were not part of their 
contracts or within the scope of their mission.
  These sentiments have kept Air America pilots from receiving veteran 
status and the benefits that come with the status. This needs to 
change. This need to change is based on declassified materials that 
show these pilots are deserving of such recognition for their exploits.
  Who were these dedicated Americans serving in Air America?
  Most crews had military training. Many bore the scars of fighting on 
the ground in Korea and Vietnam. They are former POWs and Special 
Forces--all tough as nails. They were also crop dusters and water 
bombers who fought forest fires. They were smoke jumpers and flight 
mechanics. Thousands of personnel were indigenous people, both male and 
female. Air America members came from all walks of life to answer the 
call to serve.
  Military aircraft was provided to employees to conduct combat-related 
activity in areas where the U.S. Armed Forces could not go due to 
treaties. They served at considerable risk. Numerous employees died or 
were seriously injured. However, their sacrifices were not given the 
same recognition as military members.
  Lowell Pirkle was killed when an RPG hit his helicopter, and it 
burned to the ground. Sadly, it took years for his remains to be 
repatriated and sent to Honolulu. When Deborah, Lowell's wife, insisted 
that he be buried in Arlington Cemetery, she was informed that Lowell 
was ineligible because he died not in the military but as part of Air 
America. He would eventually be buried in Arlington due to his previous 
military service, though the work in both engagements was essentially 
the same
  Let me just pause for a second. Let's look at this poster.
  From 1962 to 1975, Air America inserted and extracted U.S. military 
personnel and provided combat support across the entire Vietnam field. 
Air America rescued hundreds of Americans and stranded Vietnamese, 
including the last out of Saigon in April 1975. Who can forget these 
dramatic photographs?
  Air America pioneered remote landings during the Vietnam war to 
resupply U.S. troops and key allies, like the Hmong in Laos, and Air 
America pilots were the only known civilian employees to operate non-
FAA-certified military aircraft in combat zones.
  Lastly, as I previously mentioned, here is the memorial plaque in 
Richardson, TX, that honors the 146 Air America veterans who were 
killed. These men served ``Anything, Anywhere, Anytime, 
Professionally.'' Again, it has been denied that they actually 
performed these military duties, but, once more, declassified documents 
show that the U.S. Government owes Air America and, therefore, its 
members status as veterans.
  In August 1965, Secretary of State Dean Rusk wrote: ``Political 
factors require that Air America helicopters continue to assume 
responsibility for all search-and-rescue operations in Laos.''

[[Page S4722]]

  A year prior, Ambassador to Laos Leonard Unger said: ``Search and 
rescue is a crucial factor in maintaining the morale of pilots, and 
there is no prospect at this juncture of establishing effective search-
and-rescue procedures without the use of both civilian (Air America) 
and U.S. military personnel.''
  The stories go on, but I will add one more.
  CIA Assistant General Counsel James Harris wrote to the Civil Service 
Commission: ``In the case of Air America, it would have been virtually 
impossible to preserve the cover story had all the corporate employees 
been advised that they were really employees of the United States 
Government.''
  It is time for the U.S. Government to set the record straight about 
Air America. Their service is commended by all who served with them, 
especially by those servicemembers whose lives were saved by Air 
America. We owe them more than a debt of gratitude. I urge my 
colleagues to consider the story of these brave pilots and work toward 
providing the recognition they deserve as Federal employees, including 
granting veteran status and the associated benefits.
  I yield the floor.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. The Senator from Illinois.
  (The remarks of Mr. Durbin pertaining to the introduction of S.J. 
Res. 75 are printed in today's Record under ``Statements on Introduced 
Bills and Joint Resolutions.'')
  Mr. DURBIN. I yield the floor.
  I suggest the absence of a quorum.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. The clerk will call the roll.
  The bill clerk proceeded to call the roll.
  Mr. INHOFE. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the order for 
the quorum call be rescinded.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered.

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