Army's Storied 57th Medical Company Air Ambulance Unit Disbands (founder - "Combat" Kelly)

WRAL ^ | 1/27/07

[Libloather]

Army's Storied Air Ambulance Unit Disbands
Posted: Jan. 27, 2007

FORT BRAGG, N.C. — The Army's 57th Medical Company, which helped save hundreds of thousands of lives in wars and hurricanes, is being disbanded and spread among other units as part of the Pentagon's military reorganization plan.

The company's Huey helicopters evacuated more than 100,000 casualties in Vietnam alone. In Iraq, the 57th evacuated more than 4,500 troops, Iraqi civilians and U.S. contractors. The unit also played a major role after devastating hurricanes Fran, Floyd and Katrina.

**SNIP**

"See, we couldn't have that," Allen said. "We had those Hueys loaded so heavy sometimes we'd have to run along side 'em until they were going, and then jump in."

In 1962 the 57th was the first full medevac unit sent to Vietnam, and the first to use the UH-1 "Huey."

Maj. Charles "Combat" Kelly took command at the beginning of 1964, when there weren't many U.S. troops in Vietnam.

**SNIP**

"Dustoff," the call sign of the 57th Medical Company, quickly became the nearly universal word for medical evacuation by helicopter. The word became much more than that for men lying in the rice paddies, jungle and mountaintops as their lives leaked away. An inbound dustoff meant the odds had just shifted in their favor.

The man credited with founding Dustoff, 57th commander, Maj. Charles "Combat" Kelly, also set the tone for medevac missions. He did it with a single phrase July 1, 1964, minutes before he was shot to death.

Told repeatedly to abort his mission because incoming fire was too intense, Kelly replied coolly that he would leave only "When I have your wounded."

**SNIP**

[Libloather]

The Army's 57th Medical Company

[SandRat]

Mourn the De-Activation of a GOOD UNIT!

[cll]

A most honorable profession. Thanks for the ping.