38th Med Det(HA) USARV

The 38th Medical Detachment (Helicopter Ambulance), commonly known as 38th Med Det(HA), served with distinction as part of the United States Army Vietnam (USARV) during the Vietnam War. Activated in the early 1960s, the unit was tasked with providing rapid aeromedical evacuation of wounded personnel from battlefields and remote locations, often under hostile fire. Flying UH-1 "Huey" helicopters, its crews—nicknamed "Dustoff"—became renowned for bravery and dedication, frequently risking their lives to save others. The 38th Med Det(HA) played a vital role in reducing battlefield mortality and exemplified the lifesaving mission of Army aviation medicine in Vietnam.