Legislature(2019 - 2020)BUTROVICH 205
02/13/2020 03:30 PM Senate STATE AFFAIRS
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| Audio | Topic |
|---|---|
| Start | |
| SB170 | |
| SB168 | |
| Adjourn |
* first hearing in first committee of referral
+ teleconferenced
= bill was previously heard/scheduled
+ teleconferenced
= bill was previously heard/scheduled
| *+ | SB 170 | TELECONFERENCED | |
| *+ | SB 168 | TELECONFERENCED | |
| + | TELECONFERENCED | ||
SB 170-NAMING VIETNAM HELI. PILOTS' MEM. BRIDGE
3:32:22 PM
CHAIR REVAK announced the consideration of SENATE BILL NO. 170,
"An Act naming the Vietnam Helicopter Pilots' Memorial Bridge."
Speaking as the sponsor, Senator Revak relayed that Vietnam was
a helicopter war and federal legislation has passed to place a
memorial in Arlington National Cemetery to honor these
helicopter pilots and their crews.
CHAIR REVAK invited Darren Napoli to introduce the bill.
3:33:19 PM
DARREN NAPOLI, Legislative Intern, Senator Joshua Revak, Alaska
State Legislature, Juneau, Alaska, introduced SB 170 by reading
the following sponsor statement:
Helicopter pilots played a pivotal role in the Vietnam
War, so much so that the engagement is often
remembered as the "Helicopter War". This nickname was
well deserved with the helicopter pilots spearheading
the efforts of not only securing land in South
Vietnam, but also in the casualty evacuation efforts,
saving countless lives during the war. With over forty
percent of helicopters in Vietnam being destroyed
through the course of the War, these brave soldiers
put their lives in danger every time they flew, which
they did over two million times. The Huey pilots
proved early on that they and their helicopters would
be central to conducting a campaign in the jungles of
Vietnam, but no one knew just how crucial their
efforts would be.
On February 9th, 1965, the 52nd Combat Aviation
battalion successfully lifted 262 troops out of Phu My
and brought them to safety while taking heavy enemy
fire. On April 19th, 1965, the 119th Aviation Company
attempted a similar lift with 420 troops in Phu Cat,
however, they received intense enemy ground fire
bringing down two armed UH-1Bs, killing all on board,
along with a crew member of another UH-1B. On December
29th, 1965, just a few days before New Years', two
helicopter pilots, once again, extracted fallen
soldiers from a crashed aircraft. They did so while
under extremely hazardous conditions as the enemy
tried everything they could to bring down the rescue
crew. These are just a few examples of the countless
missions accomplished by the thousands of Vietnam
helicopter pilots over the nineteen years of war.
These particular examples occurred in 1965, that same
year, Bridge 1124 was built to span the Matanuska
river and connect the Mat-Su valley to Anchorage. It
is only fitting then that we allow Bridge 1124, a
bridge built in the midst of the Vietnam War, along
with its neighboring Bridge 1889, to carry a name in
honor of the thousands of helicopter pilots that laid
down their lives for their country.
These courageous men ask for little in return for
their immeasurable efforts put forth in Vietnam. The
least we, as the State of Alaska, can do for them is
to rename the 1124 & 1889 bridges at mile 30.4 on the
Glenn Highway in their honor. Such a gesture would
forever memorialize and honor the thousands of
helicopter pilots that lost their lives and the
thousands more who put their life on the line each day
to save their fellow soldiers.
3:36:14 PM
MR. NAPOLI said it is fitting that bridges 1124 and 1889 are
renamed in memoriam to Vietnam helicopter pilots because these
bridges have a perfect view of Gold Star Peak, which is a
memorial to veterans and the families of those who have fallen
in service. The bridges are also close to Reflections Lake that
has hiking trails and a view of Gold Star Peak. He directed
attention to the map in members' packets.
SENATOR COGHILL commented that this is a fitting way to honor
people and it serves as a reminder.
3:38:32 PM
MIKE LESMANN, Legislative Liaison, Department of Transportation
and Public Facilities (DOTPF), Juneau, Alaska, related that the
department not only employs quite a few veterans it also has a
special page on its internal website that captures the history
of each veteran who provides the information.
CHAIR REVAK asked if it is possible for individual groups to
raise money for the bridge signs.
MR. LESSMAN answered yes, that is a possibility.
SENATOR WILSON asked if the bridges were already named either
the Knik Bridge or the Matanuska Bridge in honor or a fallen
officer.
MR. LESSMAN said the Knik River may have the James Bondsteel
Bridge. The Matanuska River has a name place sign that
identifies the river.
3:41:34 PM
LYNN KILE, representing self, Anchorage, Alaska, said he is
president of the Vietnam Helicopter Pilots Association, (VHPA)
Alaska Chapter and a Vietnam helicopter pilot with 22 years of
Army service. He said he would highlight several points from his
written testimony that may be in the packets.
MR. KILE reported that the Alaska Chapter of VHPA is part of a
nation chapter of over 16,500 pilots. There are 82 members in
Alaska, although the national database shows 323 Vietnam
helicopter pilots reside in Alaska. He pointed out that this is
an all-inclusive organization that has associate memberships for
flight crews and pilots. An estimated 40,000 pilots flew 11,800
helicopters in Vietnam. Over 4,800 pilots and 5,000 helicopters
were lost in that conflict. He said the helicopter contributed
to changing the battlefield; soldiers were moved quickly and
medivacs increased survival rates to over 82 percent.
He said this request for a small historic landmark to contribute
to the legacy of a job well done is well deserved. The Alaska
Chapter of the Vietnam Helicopter Pilots Association is
supportive of SB 170, as written.
3:45:17 PM
ERVIN PETTY, Associate Member, Vietnam Helicopter Pilots
Association, Alaska Chapter, Eagle River, Alaska, said he is
retired from the U.S. Air Force after 23 years in the Aerospace
Rescue and Recovery Service, Pararescue, and also served in
Vietnam. He said he was not a pilot but is pleased to see this
recognition.
CHAIR REVAK thanked Mr. Petty and Mr. Kile for their service
during the Vietnam conflict. He shared the following statistics:
about 12,000 U.S. military helicopters spent 7.5 million hours
flying over Vietnam in 2 million missions. In total, 5,086
helicopters or 42 percent were destroyed by enemy fire, and 2002
pilots and 2704 crew chiefs and gunners were killed.
3:47:46 PM
CHAIR REVAK opened and closed public testimony on SB 170.
3:48:21 PM
At ease
3:48:51 PM
CHAIR REVAK reconvened the meeting and asked if there were
questions.
SENATOR COSTELLO thanked Senator Revak for introducing the bill
and providing the supporting documents. She said she looks
forward to seeing the sign on the bridge; it will be a reminder
of the sacrifices individuals make in the service of the
country.
CHAIR REVAK reiterated his appreciation.
3:50:00 PM
SENATOR WILSON moved to report SB 170 from committee with
individual recommendations and attached fiscal note(s).
There being no objection, SB 170 was reported from the Senate
Labor and Commerce Standing Committee.