IV 

111TH CONGRESS 

2D SESSION H. RES. 1228 

Honoring the veterans of Helicopter Attack Light Squadron Three and their 

families. 

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 

MARCH 25, 2010 

Mr. BOOZMAN submitted the following resolution; which was referred to the 

Committee on Veterans’ Affairs, and in addition to the Committee on 

Armed Services, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned 

RESOLUTION 

Honoring the veterans of Helicopter Attack Light Squadron 

Three and their families. 

Whereas Helicopter Attack Light Squadron Three (hereinafter in this resolution referred to as ‘‘HAL–3’’) began 

its history as detachments of Navy Helicopter Combat 

Support Squadron One (HC–1) which began helicopter 

gunship operations in support of Navy ‘‘Brown Water’’, 

Special Operations, and Army units in the Mekong Delta 

of South Vietnam on September 19, 1966; 

Whereas the detachments of HC–1 adopted the name 

‘‘Seawolves’’; 

Whereas HAL–3 was officially established on April 1, 1967, 

in Vung Tau, South Vietnam, and was the only active 


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•HRES 1228 IH 

duty Navy helicopter gunship squadron in the history of 

Naval Aviation; 

Whereas during the squadron’s existence, the nearly 3,000 

veterans of HAL–3 displayed extraordinary courage in 

support of United States military and political objectives 

in Vietnam; 

Whereas 44 veterans of HAL–3 gave their lives in support 

of military operations in the Mekong Delta, Vietnam; 

Whereas the extraordinary performance of the veterans of 

HAL–3 earned numerous unit citations including 6 Presidential Unit Citations, 13 Navy Unit Commendations, 2 

Meritorious Unit Commendation, a Republic of Vietnam 

Meritorious Unit Commendation, and the Vietnam Service Medal; 

Whereas the valor of the veterans of HAL–3 earned 5 Navy 

Crosses, 31 Silver Stars, 2 Legion of Merit Medals, 5 

Navy and Marine Corps Medals, 219 Distinguished Flying Crosses, 156 Purple Hearts, 101 Bronze Stars, 142 

Republic of Vietnam Gallantry Crosses, over 16,000 Air 

Medals, 439 Navy Commendation Medals, and 228 Navy 

Achievement Medals, making it possibly the most decorated Navy squadron during the Vietnam War; 

Whereas the maintenance and administrative personnel of 

HAL–3 contributed greatly to the successes of the nine 

HAL–3 detachments operating throughout the Mekong 

Delta by providing the detachments with superb maintenance support and logistics; 

Whereas HAL–3 flew over 130,000 hours of combat and 

logistical support; 

Whereas HAL–3 inflicted an estimated 8,700 casualties on 

enemy forces; 


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•HRES 1228 IH 

Whereas HAL–3 performed 1,530 medical evacuations; 

Whereas HAL–3 delivered over 37,000 passengers and over 

1,000,000 pounds of cargo; and 

Whereas HAL–3 was disestablished in March 1972 at Binh 

Thuy, South Vietnam, as part of the Vietnamization program leaving behind it a combat and humanitarian 

record recognized as bringing great credit upon the 

United States Navy and its role in the Vietnam War: 

Now, therefore, be it 

1 Resolved, that the House of Representatives— 

2 (1) honors the service, courage, and sacrifice of 

3 the veterans of HAL–3; 

4 (2) honors the families of HAL–3 veterans for 

5 their support; 

6 (3) expresses its condolences to the families and 

7 comrades of those killed in action; and 

8 (4) recognizes HAL–3 as a unique squadron in 

9 the history of naval aviation. 

Æ 


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