WHAT IS DUSTOFF?
I WAS AN
"ARMY DUSTOFF MEDIC!"

The 45th Medical Company Air Ambulance "Dustoff"

One of the Vietnam War's most dangerous jobs.

On Thursday, September 26, 2024, the President signed into law:

S. 2825, the "Dustoff Crews of the Vietnam War Congressional Gold Medal Act."

This law awards a Congressional Gold Medal to the Dustoff crews of the Vietnam War in recognition of their extraordinary heroism and life-saving actions in The Republic of Vietnam.

Thank you to Senators Cornyn and Warren, and Representatives Kilmer and McMorris Rodgers for their leadership.

► Bill Signed: S. 2825 ◄

Dustoff Missions: Heroism in Vietnam

Watch this YouTube Video about Dustoff missions—the most dangerous missions in Vietnam and the brave men who flew them.

This video sheds light on the extraordinary heroism of Dustoff crews and the life-saving missions they flew during the Vietnam War.

Unarmed medical evacuation (DUSTOFF) helicopter crew in Vietnam

Dustoff in Vietnam was a crew of four dedicated (and most people would likely say, "certifiably insane") men that flew unarmed helicopters to the front line and beyond to rescue wounded soldiers. The mission for Dustoff was to get the wounded soldiers out of harm's way, save their life by providing basic medical care, and get them to the nearest or best hospital to treat their wounds.

Life as we know it could have been a lot different for the casualties of the Vietnam War had it not been for the outstanding bravery and dedication of Dustoff crews.

One of my favorite standbys was with the Aussies at Nui Dat. Nui Dat was the Australian base in the middle of Viet Cong territory in Phuoc Tuy province. The nearby villages of Long Tan and Long Phuoc were both considered Viet Cong strongholds.

Without a doubt the Dustoff Medic witnessed more of the brutality of war than anyone.

To the casualty, the Dustoff medic was the most important member of the Dustoff crew. He was the one who had to face the wounded soldier and provide him with medical care and comfort.

The Dustoff Medic was the one that had to face the horror of war and all of its brutality.
He was the one that had to look into the eyes of a soldier who was dying or had just died.
He was the one that had to deal with the blood, guts, and gore of war.
He was the one that had to deal with the pain and suffering of the wounded soldier.
He was the one that had to deal with the fear and uncertainty of the wounded soldier.

It took a man with incredible intestinal fortitude to face the type and quantity of wounds and injuries he faced many times every day. Anything and everything imaginable to mutilate the human body were the types of challenges he faced each and every day.

As I stated above, Dustoff in Vietnam was a crew of four dedicated men. Each Dustoff Crew consisted of two Pilots, a Flight Medic, and a Crewchief. The Pilots were responsible for flying our unarmed helicopter, the Medic cared for the wounded, and the Crewchief maintained the helicopter. We all depended on each other, and we trusted each other with our lives.

A Mission of Unyielding Courage:
The Dustoff Crew.
Imagine the dense jungles of Vietnam in the dead of night. Rain pounds against the blades of an unarmed UH-1 Huey helicopter as it slices through the murky sky. The pilot grips the controls with steady resolve, navigating through gunfire while bullets tear into the fuselage. Beside him sits another pilot—a co-pilot—eyes scanning the horizon. Behind them, on the left side of the chopper, a Dustoff medic crouches, his heart racing but his hands are steady as he prepares to save lives. The medic’s station is small but mighty—a seat of the floor beside a door that opens to the unimaginable chaos below. He leans out, eyes locked on the wounded soldier waiting for rescue as the jungle penetrator is slowly winched up through the canopy. Time slows down as his thoughts race. This mission isn’t just about survival; it’s about courage, selflessness, and the unwavering commitment to bring home those who are wounded. The medic secures the soldier, checking vitals and administering life-saving aid while bullets hiss past the blades. The crewchief steps out onto the skid, keeping an eye on the tail rotor amidst the hostile terrain. Together, they’re not just saving a life—they’re carrying hope through the darkness. As the Huey lifts back into the sky, the red cross emblazoned on its sides shines like a beacon, a symbol of humanity in the midst of war. Another life saved, another testament to the indomitable spirit of Dustoff crews.

"Si" Simmons summed it all up from a Pilots point of view with what I think is the most beautiful heartfelt tribute to the Dustoff Medic and Crewchief ever written. With special permission from "Si" here is that tribute:

—

The "MEDIC" & "CREWCHIEF" Dustoff Personified

It's been said that when Dustoff pilots are flying, they talk about women — and when they're with women, they talk about flying —
But when they tell war stories of the "You Had To Be There" calibre, the subject usually locks in on the feats of their grungy MEDIC and CREWCHIEF.
As Dustoff pilots in Vietnam, our task was to insure that timely medical care was delivered to the wounded; a job that was probably helped along by having a bent for foxy flying and being a button short —

The "medical care" we "delivered" was a different story —

Our "Medic and Crewchief team" aboard was the precious cargo for whom the wounded watched and prayed —

Through the plexiglass we've watched them — and we've watched the wounded watch them — with litter and weapon in hand, trudge through waist-deep rice paddies, through tangled jungle growth, up rocky mountainsides, hang from skids with outstretched hand, jump to watery depths, tear into burning cockpits, hug a jungle penetrator as it takes them through triple canopy — all too often under withering enemy fire.

We've watched both as they've emptied clips into treelines, bunkers and jungled hideouts — buying altitude — before turning to continue tending the wounded, halt hemorrhage, close a sucking chest, start fluids, calm hysteria, breath life, cuddle babies maimed.

As their wounded were off-loaded to definitive care — we've watched the "thumbs up" as their tired eyes and muddy faces grin at a life given — and too often we've watched a sudden stiffness — a desperation — as they carefully — almost reverently — slide a lifeless litter from the hold — then resignation — then — "clear on the right"! — and back to the job —

Leaving the flightline at mission's end, we've turned and watched both - in searing heat or monsoon storms and dead of night — tie the blade, check the damage, hose the blood from their rotten smelling station — refit gear and ammo, and begin the tedious and demanding postflight or the too-often twenty five hour inspection. — And we get the "high sign" as we yell, "We'll save chow!"

Then as we trot back to the flight line as quickly as we'd left, we watched their fatigue unveil as we yelled, "Wind'er up! - got C's on board?" - and we watched them suck-it-up - again - and scurry to lift off - again -

to save a poor soul -

again - again - and again -

As a Dustoff pilot, it has been my greatest honor to serve with this awe-inspiring team and be a part of it.
SiSimmons
—
"DUSTOFF"
THE CALL SIGN
As told by SiSimmons

The DUSTOFF call sign was acquired by the 57^th Medical Detachment (Helicopter Ambulance)in January, 1964, ironically and quite appropriately/proudly, by way of medical necessity.

The occasion was a bloody two-day operation, West of Saigon, near the Cambodian border in early Jan 1964 that churned out many casualties throughout a day and night of battle.

I was a newly arrived peter pilot flying with a seasoned pilot, (NAME - wish I knew), as he handled the call sign problem with all concerned in the emergency with great skill as I sat in the co-pilot seat attempting to determine who in the hell was who on the ground, in the air and back at DUSTOFF Operations.

At the time, all combat units utilized randomly selected call signs controlled by the Navy Support Activity, Vietnam and were changed periodically in accordance with Signal Operating Instructions (SOI) in the interest of security. The call sign of 57^th Med Det (HA) on that day and at that time, per the SOI, happened to be "DUSTOFF".

Fighting was heavy, casualties were mounting, evacs were continuous and communication between the evac helicopters and ground commanders was ever-running. At the time that the code changeover was ordered to occur in accordance the SOI, the major ground commander as well as the medevac aircrews became concerned that due to the battlefield chaos that included some loss of communications between units, switching to a new call sign may jeopardize evacuation. At the request of the ground commander, the 57^th Med Det commander, MAJ Lloyd Spencer, agreed immediately to delay the call sign changeover while also requesting a temporary exception to the SOI from the approving headquarters. The exception was approved for a specified period (probably for 24 hours or possibly until the time of the next call sign change, per the SOI).

After the operation, MAJ Lloyd Spencer and MAJ Charles Kelly discussed the call sign dilemma and determined that a permanent aeromedical evacuation call sign would help avoid possible future mission impairment and more closely conform to the spirit of the Geneva Convention. (At the time, MAJ Spencer was outgoing commander - MAJ Kelly, incoming commander, assuming command on 11 Jan 64)

Within a few days, in concert with ground unit commanders, MAJ Spencer requested and received official approval for the permanent call sign change to 'DUSTOFF'.

The permanent, dedicated DUSTOFF call sign was placed into the SOI on a permanent basis and published within a few weeks. Soon afterward, DUSTOFFers discontined carrying personal SOI's on board.

(The above is based on my recollection of the circumstances which necessitated the first use of 'DUSTOFF' as a call sign in nonconformance with an SOI -- which precipitated it's adoption on a permanent basis. At the time, I was the detachment 2nd Lieutenant who was 'detailed' to manage the aircrew 'SOIs'.)

More than 1500,000 soldiers survived their injuries and owe their lives to the outstanding bravery and dedication of Dustoff crews.

The average time from when the soldier was wounded to the time he was on the surgical table was under an hour and
97% Of all soldiers who reached the hospital alive SURVIVED

All of the Brave Medics, Crew Chiefs, and Pilots that flew 'Dustoff' in the Vietnam War were volunteers and many served more than one tour.

Most people that served in Vietnam will tell you that 'Dustoff' was one of the most dangerous jobs of the war. It has been said that the life expectancy of a Dustoff crew in a hot LZ was 30 seconds, BUT if you hear a mortar round explode that time drops to about eight seconds. I can't begin to tell you how any of us ever lived to talk about it. We went rain or shine in the light of day and the dead of night. We never turned down a mission and quite often we didn't have gunship support.

I served with the 45^th Medical Company Air Ambulance from October 1968 - October 1969.

Major General Patrick Henry Brady served two tours in Vietnam and is only one of two living Army Veterans of the Vietnam War to hold both a Medal of Honor and the Distinguished Service Cross. Dustoff, because of the nature of the missions a Dustoff Crew Member could just quit and walk away without any consequences.

Other Dustoff units included the 54^th Medical Detachment, the 57^th Medical Detachment, the 159^th Medical Detachment, the 236th Medical Company, the 247^th Medical Detachment, the 498 ^th Medical Company, and the 571^st Medical Detachment.

In the ten year war, those who actively flew Dustoff missions on a 24/7 basis numbered less than 3400. Our casualty rate was 33%

All Dustoff crews flew with the same spirit and dedication as the legendary MEDEVAC pilot Major Charles 'Combat' Kelly, who died while flying a Dustoff mission in Vietnam in 1964. Major Charles Kelly coined what is now the motto for all MEDEVAC crews:

'No compromise. No rationalization. No hesitation. Fly the mission. Now!'

Unsung Hero

Main Entry: unsung hero

Part of Speech: noun

Definition: a person who makes a substantive yet unrecognized contribution; a person whose bravery is unknown or unacknowledged.

On a daily basis these dedicated Dustoff crews performed their mission with conspicuous gallantry and with great risk to their lives as a part of the call of duty while engaging in selfless actions supporting the
United States of America.

I'd like to offer up the following poignant poem to the dedicated 33% who gave their all in support of this great nation.

► JUST A COMMON SOLDIER ◄

The infantry grunts saw Dustoff crews as the most selfless men of the war and considered them as Angels and Heroes.

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WHAT IS DUSTOFF?I WAS AN"ARMY DUSTOFF MEDIC!"