HR5939-119

What This Bill Does

The USMC Helicopter Support in Vietnam Congressional Gold Medal Act is a commemorative recognition bill focused on Marine helicopter medevac crews and Navy Corpsmen who served in Vietnam. The findings section documents the role of the First Marine Air Wing, the deployment of HMM-362 and later helicopter squadrons, medevac and search-and-rescue missions, casualties among Corpsmen, flight surgeons, and Marine aircrew, and the helicopter support provided in I Corps locations such as Da Nang, Khe Sanh, Hue, Chu Lai, and other combat zones. The operative provisions require the Speaker of the House and the President pro tempore of the Senate to arrange the presentation of one Congressional Gold Medal on behalf of Congress. Treasury must strike the medal with appropriate emblems, devices, and inscriptions after consulting Defense. After presentation, the medal goes to the National Museum of the United States Navy for display and research, with a congressional preference for display at places connected to the Vietnam War. Duplicate bronze medals may be sold, and medal costs and sale proceeds flow through the United States Mint Public Enterprise Fund.

Who Benefits and How

Medevac Marines and Navy Corpsmen of the Vietnam War benefit because Congress gives their collective service formal national recognition. Families and surviving comrades of Vietnam helicopter medevac personnel benefit because the medal publicly records rescue, transport, and aeromedical missions that often receive less attention than ground combat. The National Museum of the United States Navy benefits because it receives the gold medal for display and research. Vietnam War memorial and museum audiences benefit because the bill encourages display at appropriate locations associated with the war. The United States Mint benefits from clear authority to sell duplicate bronze medals and deposit proceeds in its Public Enterprise Fund.

Who Bears the Burden and How

The Speaker of the House and the President pro tempore must arrange the medal presentation on behalf of Congress. The Secretary of the Treasury must strike the gold medal and determine its design in consultation with the Secretary of Defense. United States Mint staff must produce the gold medal, manage duplicate bronze medal sales, and account for costs and proceeds through the Public Enterprise Fund. Defense Department officials must consult on medal design and help connect the honor to the covered Vietnam War service. The National Museum of the United States Navy must preserve the medal, support research access, and manage display logistics.

Key Provisions

• Recognizes the Vietnam War service of Marine helicopter medevac personnel and Navy Corpsmen through detailed congressional findings.
• Authorizes one Congressional Gold Medal for the Medevac Marines and Navy Corpsmen of the Vietnam War.
• Directs Treasury to strike the medal in consultation with Defense and to place it with the National Museum of the United States Navy.
• Authorizes duplicate bronze medals for sale to the public.
• Provides that medal costs and duplicate-sale proceeds use the United States Mint Public Enterprise Fund.