Hall of Fame
The AAAA-sponsored Army Aviation Hall of Fame was established to honor those persons who have made an outstanding contribution over an extended period, or a truly exceptional achievement, and to record those individuals and acts for posterity. The Army Aviation Hall of Fame (AAHOF) honors not just flying heroes but all commissioned, warrant and non-commissioned officers and Soldiers, and civilians from government and industry who have contributed to Army
aviation.
Overview |
Nominations |
Medal of Honor |
Trustees |
Inductees
Hall of Fame Overview
As historians began to document the many battles of the Vietnam War, it became known as the "Helicopter War."
From the first significant involvement of the U.S. military in 1961, to the departure of U.S. forces in 1973, battlefield operations became
heavily dependent upon Army aviation and especially the helicopter. Acts
of bravery, flying skill and battle leadership became commonplace, but
by no means ordinary. The leadership of the Army Aviation Association,
at the recommendation of COL Ted Crozier, concluded in 1973 that an
AAAA-sponsored Army Aviation Hall of Fame should be established to honor
those persons who have made an outstanding contribution over an
extended period, or a truly exceptional achievement, and to record those
individuals and acts for posterity. The Army Aviation Hall of Fame
(AAHOF) honors not just flying heroes but all commissioned, warrant and
non-commissioned officers and Soldiers, and civilians from government
and industry who have contributed to Army aviation.
In the early years nominees were selected
for a particular period in Army aviation history such as the Prior to
1942 Period, the 1942-1949 Period, the 1950-1959 Period and the
1960-1969 Period. The same procedures were followed in 1975 and 1976 by
the selection committee chaired by COL Rudolph D. Descoteau.
On July 17, 1976 the National Executive
Board (NEB) created the AAHOF Board of Trustees (BOT), with retired GEN
Hamilton H. Howze as chairman and abolished the period-centric
nomination process. This BOT selected seven individuals to be honored
with AAHOF induction in June 1977 at Fort Rucker, Ala. and decided to
use a three-year cycle with induction ceremonies occurring during AAAA
conventions every third year. LTG Robert Williams, Ret. served as
chairman for the 1992 and 1995 inductions and retired MG George W.
Putnam, Jr., conducted the 1998 and 2001 inductions. As time passed, the
five-year AAAA membership requirement for voting eligibility was
eventually reduced to two years of membership in 1992, and finally
eliminated in 2001.
The selection and induction process changed
significantly in 2007. The voting process now involves all 70 AAAA
chapter presidents and the 45 members of the National Executive Board.
The Chapter Presidents linkage to the membership at large represents a
viable link to every AAAA member. This gives the Board renewed
confidence in the integrity of the process through this "view from the
field."
The AAHOF Board of Trustees
decided that beginning in 2008, the induction would become an annual
event to focus more attention on the AAHOF each year and on the
induction of just a few selectees. This encouraged more frequent and
better nominations, especially from our current generation of
warfighters; allowed for acceptance speeches (not done since 1989); and
provided an opportunity for pictures and videos of the inductees. The
annual suspense date for nominations is 1 June.
Please help us, through your nominations,
to recognize those persons who have made an outstanding contribution to
Army Aviation through all the years but especially in OEF and OIF and
especially in the lower ranks.
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Hall of Fame Nominations
The selection period for Hall of Fame Nominations has CHANGED. We now
accept nominations and induct new Hall of Fame Members each year at our
annual convention.
Nomination Form:
Criteria
An
AAAA-sponsored Army Aviation Hall of Fame honors those persons who have
made a) an outstanding contribution to Army Aviation over an extended
period, b) a doctrinal or technical contribution, c) an innovation with
an identifiable impact on Army Aviation, d) efforts that were an
inspiration to others, or e) any combination of the foregoing, and
records the excellence of their achievements for posterity. All persons
are eligible for induction, except active duty Generals and Colonels.
Membership in AAAA is not a requirement for individuals nominated for
the Army Aviation Hall of Fame. Any individual, military or civilian,
may nominate an individual for Army Aviation Hall of Fame consideration.
Documentation
The Army Aviation Hall of Fame Board of Trustees will consider only the following in making its selections:
- A 250-word summary of the accomplishments of the individual nominee.
- Up to three additional pages (8.5 x 11) of not less than 10pt. type,
to include any/all supporting documentation and endorsements.
- Completed Hall of Fame Nomination Form
- Biography of Nominee
- The nomination must include a head and shoulders photo of the
nominee, preferably a color 8x10. Photographs may either be mailed to
the AAAA National office at the above address or submitted
electronically to: awards@quad-a.org.
Submission
Any
person may submit this Nomination Form directly to the Army Aviation
Hall of Fame Board of Trustees for consideration. Nominations must be
postmarked not later than June 1 of each year in order to be considered
for induction during the following year. Nominations may either be
submitted electronically to awards@quad-a.org
or may be mailed to AAAA, ATTN: Chairman, Hall of Fame Board of
Trustees; 593 Main Street, Monroe, CT 06468-2806. The receipt of each
nomination will be acknowledged by the AAAA. However, nomination
materials - to include photographs - cannot be returned.
Boarding
Copies of
all nominations will be sent to each member of three different voting
groups: (1) Hall of Fame Board of Trustees, (2) National Executive Board
and (3) AAAA Chapter Presidents. Each nomination will be reviewed and
rated on a scale of zero to ten. An Order of Merit List (OML) will be
developed for each of the three voting groups. Copies of the three OML's
will be sent to each member of the Hall of Fame Board of Trustees. The
Hall of Fame Board of Trustees will meet to review the OML's and
establish a "break" point for nominees to be selected for induction. The
Aviation Branch Chief, the Branch Chief Warrant Officer and the Branch
Command Sergeant Major will be invited to participate in this review.
Induction
Inductions
into the AAAA Hall of Fame are conducted annually. The selected
individuals will be inducted during ceremonies that are held during the
annual Army Aviation Hall of Fame Induction Dinner. The actual Army
Aviation Hall of Fame is located at the U.S. Army Aviation Museum in
Fort Rucker, Alabama, where the portraits of the Inductees and
descriptive narratives are displayed.
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Medal of Honor
Related Links
The Medal of Honor is the nation's
highest medal for valor in combat that can be awarded to members of the
armed forces. It sometimes is referred to as the "Congressional Medal of
Honor" because the president awards it on behalf of the Congress.
The medal was first authorized in 1861
for Sailors and Marines, and the following year for Soldiers as well.
Since then, more than 3,400 Medals of Honor have been awarded to members
of all DOD services and the Coast Guard, as well as to a few civilians
who distinguished themselves with valor.
Medals of Honor are awarded sparingly
and are bestowed only to the bravest of the brave; and that valor must
be well documented. So few Medals of Honor are awarded, in fact, that
the only ones awarded after the Vietnam War were bestowed posthumously
to Army Master Sgt. Gary I. Gordon and Army Sgt. 1st Class Randall D.
Shughart for valor in Somalia in 1993, and posthumously to the most
recent recipient, Sgt. 1st Class Paul R. Smith for valor in Iraq. There
were no Medals of Honor awarded during Operation Desert Storm and
operations in Grenada, Panama and Lebanon.
However, since 1993, 39 other Medals of
Honor have been awarded to correct past administrative errors,
oversights, follow-ups on lost recommendations or as a result of new
evidence.
Here are just a few examples of Soldiers
who were awarded the Medal of Honor from three wars. Their actions,
like the other recipients of the medal, were far and above the call of
duty.
During the Civil War, the job of color
bearer was one of the most hazardous as well as important duties in the
Army. Soldiers looked to the flag for direction and inspiration in
battle and the bearer was usually out in front, drawing heavy enemy fire
while holding the flag high. On Nov. 16, 1863, regimental color bearer
Pvt. Joseph E. Brandle, from the 17th Michigan Infantry, participated in
a battle near Lenoire, Tenn. "...[H]aving been twice wounded and the
sight of one eye destroyed, [he] still held to the colors until ordered
to the rear by his regimental commander."
Corporal. Alvin C. York, from the 82nd
Division, fearlessly engaged the numerically superior German force at
Chatel-Chehery, France, on Oct. 8, 1918--just a month before the
armistice was signed. His citation reads: "...After his platoon had
suffered heavy casualties and three other noncommissioned officers had
become casualties, Corporal. York assumed command. Fearlessly leading
seven men, he charged with great daring a machine gun nest, which was
pouring deadly and incessant fire upon his platoon. In this heroic feat
the machine gun nest was taken, together with four officers and 128 men
and several guns."
Officers, as well as enlisted, have been
awarded the Medal of Honor. Valor cuts across the ranks, as well as the
services. On July 11, 1943, 2nd Lt. Robert Craig, from the 3rd Infantry
Division, led his company in battle at Favoratta, Sicily. His citation
reads: "...2nd Lt. Craig voluntarily undertook the perilous task of
locating and destroying a hidden enemy machine gun which had halted the
advance of his company. Attempts by three other officers to locate the
weapon had resulted in failure, with each officer receiving wounds. 2nd
Lt. Craig located the gun and snaked his way to a point within 35 yards
of the hostile position before being discovered. Charging headlong into
the furious automatic fire, he reached the gun, stood over it, and
killed the three crewmembers with his carbine. With this obstacle
removed, his company continued its advance. Shortly thereafter while
advancing down the forward slope of a ridge, 2nd Lt. Craig and his
platoon, in a position devoid of cover and concealment, encountered the
fire of approximately 100 enemy soldiers. Electing to sacrifice himself
so that his platoon might carry on the battle, he ordered his men to
withdraw to the cover of the crest while he drew the enemy fire to
himself. With no hope of survival, he charged toward the enemy until he
was within 25 yards of them. Assuming a kneeling position, he killed
five and wounded three enemy soldiers. While the hostile force
concentrated fire on him, his platoon reached the cover of the crest.
2nd Lt. Craig was killed by enemy fire, but his intrepid action so
inspired his men that they drove the enemy from the area, inflicting
heavy casualties on the hostile force."
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