ing Crosses, 2 Bronze Star Medals for valor, 4 Air 
Medals for valor, 4 Soldier’s Medals, and 26 Purple 
Heart Medals; 
(15) the 54th Medical Detachment displayed 
heroism on a daily basis and set the standard for all 
Dust Off crews in Vietnam; 
(16) 5 members of the 54th Medical Detach-
ment are in the Dust Off Hall of Fame, 3 are in the 
Army Aviation Hall of Fame, and 1 is the only 
United States Army aviator in the National Aviation 
Hall of Fame; 
(17) Dust Off crew members are among the 
most highly decorated soldiers in American military 
history; 
(18) in early 1964, Major Charles L. Kelly was 
the Commanding Officer of the 57th Medical De-
tachment (Helicopter Ambulance), Provisional, in 
Soc Trang, South Vietnam; 
(19) Major Kelly helped to forge the Dust Off 
call-sign into history as one of the most welcomed 
phrases to be heard over the radio by wounded sol-
diers in perilous and dire situations; 
(20) in 1964, Major Kelly was killed in action 
as he gallantly maneuvered his aircraft to save a 
wounded American soldier and several Vietnamese 
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soldiers and boldly replied, after being warned to 
stay away from the landing zone due to the ferocity 
of enemy fire, ‘‘When I have your wounded.’’; 
(21) General William Westmoreland, Com-
mander, Military Assistance Command, Vietnam 
(1964–1968), singled out Major Kelly as an example 
of ‘‘the greatness of the human spirit’’ and high-
lighted his famous reply as an inspiration to all in 
combat; 
(22) General Creighton Abrams, Westmore-
land’s successor (1968–1972), and former Chief of 
Staff of the United States Army, highlighted the 
heroism of Dust Off crews, ‘‘A special word about 
the Dust Offs . . . Courage above and beyond the 
call of duty was sort of routine to them. It was a 
daily thing, part of the way they lived. That’s the 
great part, and it meant so much to every last man 
who served there. Whether he ever got hurt or not, 
he knew Dust Off was there.’’; 
(23) Dust Off crews possessed unique skills and 
traits 
that 
made 
them 
highly 
successful 
in 
aeromedical evacuation in Vietnam, including indom-
itable courage, extraordinary aviation skill and 
sound judgment under fire, high-level medical exper-
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tise, and an unequaled dedication to the preservation 
of human life; 
(24) members of the United States Armed 
Forces on the ground in Vietnam had their con-
fidence and battlefield prowess reinforced knowing 
that there were heroic Dust Off crews just a few 
minutes from the fight, which was instrumental to 
their well-being, willingness to fight, and morale; 
(25) military families in the United States knew 
that their loved ones would receive the quickest and 
best possible care in the event of a war-time injury, 
thanks to the Dust Off crews; 
(26) the willingness of Dust Off crews to also 
risk their lives to save helpless civilians left an im-
measurably positive impression on the people of 
Vietnam and exemplified the finest American ideals 
of compassion and humanity; and 
(27) Dust Off crews from the Vietnam War 
hailed from every State in the United States and 
represented numerous ethnic, religious, and cultural 
backgrounds. 
SEC. 3. CONGRESSIONAL GOLD MEDAL. 
(a) PRESENTATION AUTHORIZED.—The Speaker of 
the House of Representatives and the President pro tem-
pore of the Senate shall make appropriate arrangements 
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for the presentation, on behalf of Congress, of a single 
gold medal of appropriate design in honor of the Dust Off 
crews of the Vietnam War, collectively, in recognition of 
their heroic military service, which saved countless lives 
and contributed directly to the defense of our country. 
(b) DESIGN AND STRIKING.—For the purposes of the 
award referred to in subsection (a), the Secretary of the 
Treasury shall strike the gold medal with suitable em-
blems, devices, and inscriptions, to be determined by the 
Secretary, in consultation with the Secretary of Defense. 
(c) SMITHSONIAN INSTITUTION.— 
(1) IN GENERAL.—Following the award of the 
gold medal in honor of the Dust Off Crews of the 
Vietnam War, the gold medal shall be given to the 
Smithsonian Institution, where it will be available 
for display as appropriate and available for research. 
(2) SENSE OF CONGRESS.—It is the sense of 
Congress that the Smithsonian Institution should 
also make the gold medal awarded pursuant to this 
Act available for display elsewhere, particularly at 
appropriate locations associated with the Vietnam 
War, and that preference should be given to loca-
tions affiliated with the Smithsonian Institution. 
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SEC. 4. DUPLICATE MEDALS. 
The Secretary may strike and sell duplicates in 
bronze of the gold medal struck pursuant to section 3 
under such regulations as the Secretary may prescribe, at 
a price sufficient to cover the cost thereof, including labor, 
materials, dies, use of machinery, and overhead expenses, 
and the cost of the gold medal. 
SEC. 5. NATIONAL MEDALS. 
The medal struck pursuant to this Act is a national 
medal for purposes of chapter 51 of title 31, United States 
Code. 
Æ 
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