Veterans of the United States Army’s Dustoff medical evacuation aircrews will receive a Congressional Gold Medal for their extraordinary heroism and life-saving actions during the Vietnam War. Members of this elite group flew medevac helicopters into the jungles of Vietnam to rescue and transport wounded United States military personnel from the battlefield to medical facilities. A team of Hunton Andrews Kurth LLP attorneys, led by counsel Todd Mikolop and associate Garrett Kral, have played a key role in assisting the Vietnam Dustoff Association with obtaining the Congressional Gold Medal.

“The Dustoff medevac helicopter pilots are deserving of Congress’ highest expression of national appreciation, the Congressional Gold Medal,” said lead attorney Garrett Kral. “These brave men had a one-in-three chance of being killed or wounded when flying rescue missions in Vietnam, and over the course of the war Dustoff saved 900,000 lives. Among the Dustoff crew’s ranks are Medal of Honor, Distinguished Service Cross, and Silver Star recipients.  This Congressional Gold Medal is so important because it recognizes the heroics of all Dustoff veterans. We are so appreciative of their service to our great Nation.”

The Dustoff Crews of the Vietnam War Congressional Gold Medal Act (H.R. 1015) was introduced in the U.S. House of Representatives on February 14, 2023, and in the U.S. Senate (S. 2825) on September 14, 2023. These identical bills bestow the Congressional Gold Medal upon Dustoff veterans, and the medal itself will be displayed at the U.S. Army Medical Department Museum in Fort Sam Houston, Texas. Two-thirds of each chamber of Congress was required to cosponsor this legislation in order for it to be enacted into law, and each bill exceeded that high threshold, securing 71 cosponsors in the U.S. Senate and 332 cosponsors in the U.S. House of Representatives.

Upon the bill’s passage in the House, Steve Vermillion, the Vietnam Dustoff Association President remarked: “Hunton Andrews Kurth attorneys helped us access Congressional representatives and their staff so that we could tell our story. The story of 18 and 19 year old men flying unarmed helicopters into battle, at night, in the rain, and multiple times a day, to rescue our wounded and fly them back to medical facilities. Words are not enough to express our gratitude to Congress for bestowing this honor upon Dustoff. On behalf of the 3,000 aircrew members that flew these dangerous missions, thank you.”

Chris Siedor, a member of the Vietnam Dustoff Association who was heavily involved in this effort said: “This Congressional Gold Medal recognizes the exceptional intrepidity and dedication of 3,000 Army medevac crews in the Vietnam War who pioneered the helicopter hoist rescue mission and saved 900,000 lives. The Dustoff crews send their heartfelt thanks to Congress for passing this important legislation and to Hunton Andrews Kurth for assisting us in obtaining the Congressional Gold Medal.

Hunton Andrews Kurth has donated more than 1,500 pro bono hours to assist Dustoff veterans with obtaining the Congressional Gold Medal. Dozens of attorneys and staff from several of the firm’s offices as well as friends of the firm volunteered their time to assist with this important effort. On three separate occasions representatives of the firm went to Capitol Hill with Dustoff veterans—who flew-in from across the country—so that they could meet with Members of Congress to enlist their support and obtain a Congressional Gold Medal. During these fly-in days, Hunton Andrews Kurth and Dustoff teams participated in more than 250 scheduled meetings plus unscheduled drop-in meetings.

Hunton Andrews Kurth’s pro bono efforts have previously resulted in a Congressional Gold Medal. In 2020, a group of firm attorneys led by partner Fred Eames were successful in obtaining a Congressional Gold Medal for Merrill’s Marauders, which honored soldiers of the 5307th Composite Unit (Provisional) for their bravery and outstanding service in the jungles of Burma during World War II.