NEW ORLEANS — It's the highest award Congress can bestow.
In U.S. history, only 184 people, institutions, or events have received the Congressional Gold Medal.
And now those who flew the wounded between combat zones and field hospitals during the Vietnam War will be among them.
They were called The Dustoff Crews, the team of four on those helicopter air ambulance units that evacuated the wounded during the Vietnam War.
“The first thing was to get in," said Tran Asprodites. "Get the patient on board, do what we needed to do, and get him to a hospital as quickly as, it's the golden hour that they talk about, and we beat it every time”. When asked if that made him proud of what he did, he responded, “And sad because of the people that didn't make it back.”
After graduating from St. Aloysius, now Brother Martin, he became a medic who flew those missions.
When asked how it changed him, seeing some of the worst battle wounds day after day as a teenager, he replied “I'm sitting here today. I don't know.”
Aircraft commander Doug Petersen of Fort Worth piloted those Huey choppers. Over 11 years, crews rescued 900,000 soldiers and civilians.
“It just warms my heart today to think that there's a Vietnam veteran walking around somewhere that is here today because of something that I did 54 years ago,” said Doug Petersen .
It was dangerous, taking on enemy fire, and hovering over the jungle, at night.
“I mean 22 years old and you're in charge of a multi-million-dollar helicopter, making life and death decisions, is like crazy,” said Petersen .
And now, six decades later, the heroism of these two men and the other 3,400 members of the Dustoff Crews is finally being recognized. Congress passed the Dustoff Crews of the Vietnam War Congressional Gold Medal Act.
Just days ago, President Biden signed it. It's a recognition Vietnam veterans never thought possible after the way they were treated when they came home.
“And I thought it's not right for an American to spit on another American. And it still gets to me,” remembers an emotional Petersen.
“This is signed: From a Grateful Nation,” Asprodites said through tears, of his Quilt of Valor. “That's never happened before. Fortunately, if I'm in a room with veterans and they find out what I did, they are so thankful.”
Just last week, Tran got another honor a Quilt of Valor.
“These medics just did miracles in the back, you know, they're starting IVs. They're doing clearing airways, and they're giving CPR,” said Petersen.
And they say they really saved many millions more because those patients not only went back home to their families but had families of their own.
Of the 3,400 Dustoff Crew members, around 800 are still alive.
No date is set yet for the official ceremony.
Here is a link to a Ted Talk from Doug Petersen about the missions he flew.
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