Legislature(2021 - 2022)GRUENBERG 120
03/02/2021 01:00 PM House MILITARY & VETERANS' AFFAIRS
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| Audio | Topic |
|---|---|
| Start | |
| HB34 | |
| HB97 | |
| HB34 | |
| HB97 | |
| Adjourn |
* first hearing in first committee of referral
+ teleconferenced
= bill was previously heard/scheduled
+ teleconferenced
= bill was previously heard/scheduled
| *+ | HB 34 | TELECONFERENCED | |
| *+ | HB 97 | TELECONFERENCED | |
HB 34-NAMING VIETNAM HELI. PILOTS' MEM. BRIDGE
1:05:32 PM
CHAIR TUCK announced that the first order of business would be
HOUSE BILL NO. 34, "An Act naming the Vietnam Helicopter Pilots'
Memorial Bridge."
1:05:50 PM
REPRESENTATIVE SHAW, as prime sponsor, introduced HB 34. He said
the bill was originally conceived by Representative Tilton, and
he thanked her for allowing him to introduce it.
REPRESENTATIVE SHAW shared his experience as an airman, passing
around a 51-year-old picture of a Huey helicopter that was
evacuating two wounded soldiers. He then read, as a salute to
the pilots, a radio transmission between helicopters Ghost Rider
172 and 174. Ghost Rider 172 was hit 20 times deep within enemy
territory; it made a forced landing, causing aircraft damage and
wounding crew members. Ghost Rider 174 had an engine failure
and crashed eight miles south of Ghost Rider 172, resulting in a
total loss. Over 12,000 U.S. Military helicopters spent 7.5
million hours flying over Vietnam, flying two million missions.
Representative Shaw said 42 percent of the helicopters serving
in Vietnam were destroyed by enemy fire, bad weather, mechanical
snafus, and other "bad hands" routinely dealt by war. A total
of 2,000 pilots and over 2,700 crew were killed.
1:09:15 PM
REPRESENTATIVE SHAW then described memorial structures at
Arlington National Cemetery, including a monument measuring 22
inches high, 21 inches deep, and 32 inches wide, which was
placed at Section 35 along Memorial Drive, not far from the Tomb
of the Unknown Soldier. He expressed his gratitude, as a
Vietnam veteran, to the helicopter pilots for their courage and
selflessness. He said that it's been 51 years and he still
carries the anguish; he said that we need to remember the
courage and selflessness of those who made the ultimate
sacrifice.
1:10:52 PM
CHAIR TUCK asked for further description of the elements of the
photograph.
REPRESENTATIVE SHAW described the September 1970 operation,
stressing the sacrifice of the pilots, their ages, and their
wounds. He talked about Roger Banfield, one of the evacuated,
who was put into an induced coma for eight days, and he spoke of
being able to hear the Huey rotor blade cutting through the air,
knowing it was being piloted by a 19-year-old who had only 100
hours of flight training before going to war.
1:12:47 PM
JOSHUA WALTON, Staff, Representative Laddie Shaw, Alaska State
Legislature, presented HB 34 on behalf of Representative Shaw,
prime sponsor. He described the location of the bridges in
relation to the Alaska Veterans' Memorial; bridges 1124 and 1189
spanning the Matanuska River at mile 30.4 of the Glenn Highway.
Included in the packet are photos of the bridges taken from
Google Maps, an academic article highlighting the role of
helicopters in the Vietnam War, and contemporary articles
highlighting the pilots' heroism and the challenges of
recognition post-conflict. He noted that this bill has the
support of the Vietnam Helicopter Pilots Association Alaska
Chapter and that the president of the chapter is testifying.
1:15:20 PM
REPRESENTATIVE RAUSCHER inquired whether there would be
testimony addressing how bridges are named.
MR. WALTON replied that bridges are named in statute and require
legislation.
REPRESENTATIVE RAUSCHER asked how the bridge is currently
denoted.
MR. WALTON Bridges replied that they are denoted by an
identifying number; these bridges are numbers 1124 and 1189.
REPRESENTATIVE RAUSCHER asked whether the Department of
Transportation & Public Facilities (DOTPF) understands that.
MR. WALTON replied yes, and he confirmed that there is no name
on the bridge.
1:17:06 PM
REPRESENTATIVE NELSON thanked Representative Shaw for his
service and dedicated thoughts.
1:17:45 PM
REPRESENTATIVE CLAMAN asked for geographic clarity.
MR. WALTON, confirmed that when heading north from Anchorage to
the Matanuska-Susitna ("Mat-Su") Valley, the bridges in question
are less than a mile after the Knik River Bridge.
1:18:39 PM
REPRESENTATIVE STORY expressed her appreciation to
Representative Shaw and inquired how community members would
know that the process of naming the bridge is occurring and the
significance of it.
MR. WALTON replied that there are no plans to announce the
naming but there will be a sign that the community will see. He
noted that there would be a $6,000 fiscal note specifically for
the sign.
REPRESENTATIVE STORY asked for confirmation that there would be
no public comment.
CHAIR TUCK noted that there will be invited testimony today, and
public testimony later.
1:20:21 PM
CHAIR TUCK announced the next presenter, but due to technical
difficulties, the telephonic connection was lost.
1:20:50 PM
The committee took an at-ease from 1:21 p.m. to 1:23 p.m.
1:23:05 PM
CHAIR TUCK announced HB 34 would be held until later in the
meeting.
HB 34-NAMING VIETNAM HELI. PILOTS' MEM. BRIDGE
1:24:12 PM
CHAIR TUCK announced that the next order of business would be a
return to HOUSE BILL NO. 34, "An Act naming the Vietnam
Helicopter Pilots' Memorial Bridge."
CHAIR TUCK explained that the lost connection with the
aforementioned testifier had been reestablished.
1:24:25 PM
LYNN KILE, President, Vietnam Helicopter Pilots Association,
began by affirming his support for HB 34 and that he is a
Vietnam veteran. He described the Vietnam Helicopter Pilots
Association as an all-inclusive, all-service group that includes
pilots and crew members, currently with 80 members. There are
approximately 300 pilots currently in Alaska. He then stressed
that Alaska is a heavy aviation state with a high number of
Vietnam veteran pilots. This is a historic opportunity to honor
those who have dedicated their skills to Alaska and the rest of
the United States.
1:27:19 PM
CHAIR TUCK announced that HB 34 would be held over.