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“There is nothing stronger than kindness, and nothing is kinder than true strength.” I believe these words of St. Francis de Sales are at the heart of the warrior spirit. It may sound strange, but it is true that wars are won through overwhelming force. But in the end, it is the tender love of a warrior, fighting selflessly for his brother or sister next to him, that achieves lasting peace.
With this kind of love, the U.S. Army helicopter aeromedical evacuation crews, who operated under the radio call sign “Dustov” and evacuated approximately 900,000 people to safety and life during the Vietnam War, performed an unprecedented mission of mercy. carried out. The time has come for their virtue and courage to be properly recognized by a grateful nation. But I’m getting ahead of myself. First, some history.
Prior to Vietnam, helicopter rescue operations had rarely been attempted in combat zones. However, the dense jungle landscape and enemy force tactics necessitated an immediate reconsideration of Army precedent. It was decided that large helicopters, which were easy targets for enemy attacks, were the only way to evacuate wounded troops.
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Dastov’s crew, each consisting of two pilots, a medic, and a crew leader, literally rose to the occasion. They were unarmed and took to the skies when called upon, day or night, always acting on the principle of “No compromise, no rationalization, no hesitation. Accomplish the mission!” As President Lincoln said a century before Vietnam, many are unable to share their stories because they gave the last measure of full dedication. Men like Major Charles L. Kelly.
Kelly was one of the first Dastov pilots to die in combat in Vietnam. On July 1, 1964, he refused to withdraw from the hot landing zone, advising his troops on the ground “only if there are casualties.” A bullet pierced the warrior’s heart, taking his life, but not his love. “When You’re Wounded” quickly became the motto of Dustov’s pilots after Kelly’s death.
Of course, many of the crew of Dastov returned home, but as brave as these heroes were during the war, now they are reluctant to talk about their bravery. So what can we Americans, in the truest sense of the word, do for gentlemen? This is the question that my firm’s pro bono client, the Vietnam Dust Off Association, answered, first by defining and then by instructing in three well-known words: “Accomplish the mission.”
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Our common mission: lobbying Congress to award the Congressional Gold Medal to the Vietnam War U.S. Army Dustoff crew is easier said than done. Led by our original co-sponsors, Sen. John Cornyn and Sen. Elizabeth Warren, we secured the required 67 co-sponsors for our bill in the Senate. This is a rare example of bipartisanship in the 118th Congress. But our work is not done yet.
Passage of the Vietnam War Congressional Gold Medal Act would require similar supermajority support in the House. Congressman Derek Kilmer and Congresswoman Cathy McMorris Rodgers are the lead co-sponsors there, but many additional co-sponsors are needed. There are many others.
The Congressional Gold Medal supermajority requirement is a very high standard, but it is the highest expression of appreciation for our nation’s outstanding achievements. What’s more, even though the numbers may be daunting to pro bono lawyers, the Operation Dastov veterans themselves are rarely left blank.
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During the Vietnam War, joining a Dustov crew required accepting a one-in-three chance of being killed or injured. That’s a daunting number. This is simply the people’s expression of gratitude.
These heroes have made progress, but time is running out. By summer, members of Congress will be campaigning in their districts for re-election. What better way to promote Husting than by co-sponsoring a worthy bill like HR 1015?
Here’s what you can do: Call your member of Congress and ask them to co-sponsor HR 1015. If the congressman asks you why, point out the necessary conclusion from the song you have memorized.
In “America the Beautiful,” we honor our nation’s heroes who “loved their country more than themselves, and gave more mercy than their own lives.” If the Dastov crew, who loved the wounded so much and valued their mercy by risking their lives to evacuate them, are not heroes, then no one is.
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That’s why the House must act. Our republic not only sings and celebrates our highest ideals, but also celebrates our fellow citizens who live those ideals to the fullest. A nation that properly honors its heroes will always find them in abundance when they need them most.
For the crew of Dastov, the mission was accomplished, but the obligations of our country still remain. The House should follow the Senate’s lead and pass HR 1015. With gratitude, the uniquely American beauty of their tender, merciful love will never fade.
Editor’s note: The author is a partner at the law firm of Hunton Andrews Cruz and provided pro bono support to the Vietnam Dastov Association to assist in lobbying for the passage of the Dastov Crew in the Vietnam War Congressional Gold Medal Act. ing.
