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.