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

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.

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.

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

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.

Madam Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.

Madam Speaker, on that I demand the yeas and nays.

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.

I yield myself such time as I may consume.

(Mr. BUYER asked and was given permission to revise and extend his remarks.)

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.

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 in service to America during the Vietnam War.

I would especially like to mention Frank Hiles who currently lives in Ozark, Arkansas who served with HAL-3. Originally from Cleveland, Ohio, Frank served in the United States Navy for 20 years as aircrewman on many different types of aircraft. After retiring he moved to Arkansas to start a business and raise his three children as a single parent. Frank continued his service to his country as an intern in the Fort Smith Congressional office last year as he worked toward his bachelor's degree.

I want to thank Frank and all of our veterans who served with the HAL-3 Seawolves.

Despite the controversy surrounding the Vietnam War, most of the officers and enlisted men who served in HAL-3 were volunteers. Most of the pilots were fresh out of flight training in Pensacola and most of the juniors enlisted were recent graduates of Navy boot camp and technical training schools. Their leaders were also new to combat, coming mostly from ship-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 benefitted from battlefield medivacs. In short, the Seawolves mastered every form of combat helicopter operations.

Here are some statistics from the Resolution:

The nine detachments and home guard of HAL-3 flew 130,000 flight hours in 5 years, they performed 1530 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 cast-off gunships and a few slicks, the veterans of HAL-3 were awarded 156 Purple Hearts, 5 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. Forty-four 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.

It has been my 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.

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.