Stretcher-bearers in September 1966 carry wounded to “Dustoff” medevac helicopters at a 1st Air Cavalry base near Qui Nhon in Vietnam on the South China Sea, about 375 miles northeast of Saigon. (Lawrence J. Sullivan/National Museum of the United States Army)
(Tribune News Service) — At the Covenant Woods senior living community in Mechanicsville, Va., many have gotten to know the resident war hero in their midst — Chief Warrant Officer Al Michaels.
During the Vietnam War, Michaels, 82, was one of approximately 3,400 Dustoff helicopter crew members responsible for evacuating approximately 900,000 soldiers and civilians.
Last fall, the Dustoff crews were collectively approved as recipients of the Congressional Gold Medal, the highest civilian award given by Congress.
On Wednesday, the Covenant Woods community held a surprise celebration to honor Michaels’ heroism and Congressional Gold Medal recognition.
“I can’t believe you got away with this,” Michaels joked to the many attendees. “There’s no secrets in Covenant Woods, but that was a well-kept secret.”
Flying into danger
Originally hailing from Pittsburgh, Pa., Michaels joined the Army and served in Vietnam from February 1968 to February 1969.
He arrived in Vietnam during the Tet Offensive, a period when North Vietnamese and Viet Cong forces attacked the South Vietnamese and United States militaries.
Michaels started off in the 4th Platoon, 45th Medical Company as an air ambulance co-pilot in Lai Khe, north of Saigon.
Seven months later, he moved to the 1st Platoon at Long Binh as a Dustoff pilot.
Dustoff, meaning “Dedicated Unhesitating Service To Our Fighting Forces,” was the call sign for medical evacuations during the Vietnam War.
The Dustoff crews performed evacuations from May 1962 through March 1973. Their duties came with great risk; one-third of the crew members were killed or wounded while serving in Vietnam.
Perhaps the best-known Dustoff crew member was Maj. Charles Kelly, a pilot and commander in his unit.
In 1964, Kelly was killed while taking heavy fire in a landing zone. Refusing to withdraw when asked, he instead said, “When I have your wounded.”
That statement became embedded in each of the Dustoff crew members who followed Kelly, including Michaels.
Michaels said he evacuated more than 2,100 casualties, and that crew members averaged 1,000 flight hours in a year’s time.
“It was just an honor to be a Dustoff crew member,” he said.
Described by his friends as humble, Michaels singled out two crew members who provided great help during his flights.
“The two kids in the back, the enlisted men, were the bravest young men you would ever want to see,” he said. “You medical people would be amazed at the good care that they gave the wounded, and they kept them alive until we could get them to a major hospital.”
Michaels lost many friends during the war, including Warrant Officer Timothy Cole Jr.
Cole, also a medical evacuation pilot, was killed on Oct. 18, 1968, when his helicopter was shot down during a rescue mission. Michaels escorted Cole’s remains to his home in Georgia and continues to keep in touch with his family.
Following his time in the Army, Michaels kept working as a helicopter pilot and became a certified airframe and powerplant technician. He also worked as a safety inspector for the Federal Aviation Administration.
“Al, we remain proud of your accomplishments, and we are thrilled that you and your Dustoff colleagues have received this gold medal recognition from a grateful nation,” said Rick Richardson, a friend of Michaels for about nine years.
At Covenant Woods, residents, American Legion members and other guests filled the event room to celebrate their own Dustoff gold medalist.
“Such stories of yours, as well as all those who have served, are truly inspiring to our community,” Covenant Woods CEO Thom Wright said to Michaels.
The event included the presentation of the colors, a certificate of recognition presented to Michaels and the singing of “God Bless the U.S.A.” by the Creaky Crooners, a group made up of Covenant Woods residents.
“I really appreciate this honor,” Michaels said. “To be recognized like this is just beyond belief.”
For the Dustoff crews, a single gold medal will be produced to represent all the members and will be given to the U.S. Army Medical Department Museum in San Antonio.
With no physical gold medal available, Michaels’ fellow community members found a creative solution to depict their friend with a gold medal.
Don Charnock, a Covenant Woods resident, took an image of the Congressional Gold Medal design and superimposed it over a photo of Michaels he previously took.
A few years ago, Charnock took an old photo of Michaels’ late wife Nancy and spruced it up. When asked by Covenant Woods to create a picture of Michaels with the gold medal, Charnock was happy to do it.
“He liked the picture that I did with her so much, and he seemed to be so appreciative of it,” Charnock said of Michaels. “I just wanted to duplicate the feeling all over again.”
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