Shining the spotlight on a group of true American heroes

The Vietnam War was the first in which the United States military relied heavily on helicopters for transportation and combat. These pilots and crew members touched every aspect of efforts during the war, serving as transportation for soldiers and civilians, and providing critical battlefield support.

However, before last month, there was no national monument inside Arlington National Cemetery (ANC) honoring the heroic efforts of the nearly 5,000 pilots and crew member casualties from what has commonly become known as the “Helicopter War.” These fallen heroes account for nearly 10 percent of all Vietnam casualties.

During the 114th Congress, I introduced H.R. 4298, the Vietnam Helicopter Crew Memorial Act. This bill, which would have directed the Secretary of the Army to place a monument within the cemetery, successfully passed the House but was not taken up in the Senate before the end of last Congress.

I would like to thank everyone involved in this effort for teaming up with me to support such a deserving group of veterans, particularly Mr. William Dennison, the constituent who first alerted my office in April 2015 of the efforts to place a commemorative monument in ANC. I would also like to recognize Rep. Ralph Abraham, Louisiana Republican, who is a pilot, member of the House Committee on Armed Services, and someone who was instrumental in helping advance this issue through the House during the 114th Congress.

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