HOUSE BILL NO. 223 "An Act naming the Vietnam Helicopter Pilots' Memorial Bridge." 9:14:05 AM REPRESENTATIVE LADDIE SHAW, SPONSOR, reported that Vietnam was called the helicopter war, and during that war there were 12,000 helicopters that flew in combat or support missions. He reported 5,000 helicopters were destroyed, and 40,000 pilots served. He deferred to his staff to provide an overview of the bill. JOSH WALTON, STAFF, REPRESENTATIVE LADDIE SHAW, relayed that the bill named bridges 1124 and 1889 the Vietnam Helicopter Pilots' Memorial Bridge. The bridges spanned the Matanuska River Northbound and Southbound at Mile 30.4 of the Glenn Highway. 9:15:13 AM Co-Chair Johnston OPENED public testimony. 9:15:31 AM VIKKI JO KENNEDY, SELF, JUNEAU, spoke in support of HB 223. She recalled a friend she lost to the Vietnam War. She thought a memorial in Alaska for Vietnam Helicopter Pilots was long overdue. She thanked the committee for hearing her testimony. 9:17:57 AM TOM STUDLER, CHIEF WARRANT OFFICER, UNITED STATES ARMY (RETIRED), FAIRBANKS, supported the bill. He was a Vietnam Veteran. He served in Vietnam and flew on hunter-killer teams. He thought it was ironic the representative had asked him to testify on the bill. He undoubtedly flew Representative Shaw, a member of Seal Team 1, at some point, as they served in the same area at the same time. One of his jobs was to support Seal Team 1. The other primary mission of his team was with Special Forces. He flew on a hunter-killer team where their job was to find and seek out the enemy. He flew approximately 1,500 hours and was shot down five times during his tour in Vietnam. One of those times was across the border in a country in which they were not it. It took him a week to get out. He could attest that the pilots and crew members in Vietnam had a very tough mission. The Vietnam War was the "Helicopter War." He thought the U.S. Army flew more missions during Vietnam than any other time. He found it difficult to reflect on his time in Vietnam because of the many friends he lost - the people that sacrificed their lives. Just under 5,000 pilots and crew died during the war. He happened to be personal friends with a couple of Medal of Honor recipients, Chief Warrant Officer Gerald (Pappy) Devine and Chief Warrant Officer Mike Novosel, for their heroism flying dust off missions. They returned time- after-time to evacuate the wounded. He noted the average life of a helicopter pilot in Vietnam once engaged was under 5 minutes. The Vietnam helicopter pilots were very deserving of the bill for their sacrifices made to their country. Co-Chair Johnston thanked Representative Shaw and Mr. Studler for their service. She remarked, "We never did that enough for the Vietnam Vets." 9:21:21 AM LYNN KYLE, PRESIDENT, ALASKA CHAPTER OF VIETNAM HELICOPTERS PILOTS ASSOCIATION, EAGLE RIVER (via teleconference), was a Vietnam Veteran and helicopter pilot. He noted that the Alaska Chapter was an all exclusive group of helicopter pilots and crew and had 89 members, 7 of which were deceased. According to the National Vietnam Helicopter Pilots Association, there were over 300 pilots and crew in Alaska. However, finding everyone was ore difficult, being that they were all senior citizens. The Vietnam conflict was a helicopter war and the sacrifices made by the pilots and crews could not be understated. They brought in a revolutionary way of doing business which was still in existence. For instance, medical treatment was a standard presently and started in Vietnam. Air crews flew over 500,000 missions and saved over 900,000 patients at an astonishing rate of 82 percent survival. It was currently used in all of the country's combat arms, across the country, and in Alaska. Many people gave their lives to the cause. Those that came home, brought their skills and provided significant contributions to Alaska in aviation capability. He indicated that many Veterans were passing away each day. It would be an honorable thing for Veterans to see the memorial. Their contribution and sacrifice to the nation was certainly worthy of their legacy to be honored and a dedication of a landmark in their honor was a historic opportunity. He recognized funding could be an issue, but so was their sacrifice. He emphatically supported the bill. Co-Chair Johnston thanked Mr. Kyle for his testimony and his service. Co-Chair Johnston CLOSED public testimony. 9:24:05 AM AT EASE 9:24:16 AM RECONVENED Co-Chair Foster MOVED to report HB 223 out of Committee with individual recommendations and the accompanying fiscal note. There being NO OBJECTION, it was so ordered. HB 223 was REPORTED OUT of Committee with a "do pass" recommendation and one previously published fiscal note: FN1 (DOT). Co-Chair Johnston reviewed the agenda for the afternoon.