September 6, 2019 Mission Medevac: Library's Veterans History Project Hosts Changemakers Panel on Medical Evacuations

The advent of medical evacuations by air has saved the lives of countless American soldiers. From the Vietnam War to Iraq and Afghanistan, medevac aircraft and crews have provided rapid medical evacuations enabling crews to rapidly move wounded soldiers out of the front lines and into hospital facilities for treatment.

On Tuesday, Sept. 10, the Library of Congress Veterans History Project will bring together a panel of U.S. Army medevac pilots for an unprecedented discussion. The event will explore ways that Army medevac technology, safety, quality of care and culture has evolved over time.

The panel of experts will also explore the ways that military medical evacuations have influenced and advanced both military and civilian operations. The event will be held from 1p.m. to 2:30 p.m. in room 119 on the first floor of the Library’s Thomas Jefferson Building, 10 First St. S.E., Washington, D.C. The event is free and open to the public, but with limited seating, RSVPs are strongly recommended. To secure tickets, visit this event ticketing site: eventbrite.com/e/medevac-panel-discussion-tickets-70024604477. Contact vohp@loc.gov for more information.

The panel will be moderated by Chas Henry, host of the radio program “Connecting Vets” and CBS News “Eye on Veterans.” Henry is a U.S. Marine Corps veteran and combat-decorated veteran of the 1991 Gulf War. Veterans History Project director Karen Lloyd will offer opening remarks.

The panel members for the program include both retired Vietnam-era helicopter pilots and active duty Army aviators:

• Col. Merle Snyder (U.S. Army, Retired)
• Col. Douglas Moore (U.S. Army, Retired)
• Lt. Col. Paul Roley, U.S. Army executive officer to the Commanding General, Regional Health Command – Atlantic
• Lt. Col. Nathan Forrester, U.S. Army battalion commander of the 82^nd General Support Aviation Battalion

Congress created the Veterans History Project in 2000 to collect, preserve and make accessible the firsthand remembrances of America’s war veterans from World War I through the more recent conflicts in Iraq and Afghanistan, so that future generations may hear directly from veterans and better understand the realities of war. For more information, visit loc.gov/vets/ or call the toll-free message line at (888) 371-5848. Subscribe to the VHP RSS to receive periodic updates of VHP news. Follow VHP on Facebook @vetshistoryproject.

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