[Congressional Bills 117th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H. Res. 887 Introduced in House (IH)]

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117th CONGRESS
  2d Session
H. RES. 887

 Expressing the sense of the House of Representatives that Gary Andrew 
   Cyr should be honored for heroism in Vietnam on February 23, 1971.


_______________________________________________________________________


                    IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

                            January 28, 2022

Mr. Buck submitted the following resolution; which was referred to the 
                      Committee on Armed Services

_______________________________________________________________________

                               RESOLUTION


 
 Expressing the sense of the House of Representatives that Gary Andrew 
   Cyr should be honored for heroism in Vietnam on February 23, 1971.

Whereas, on February 23, 1971, Corporal Gary Andrew Cyr was 19 years old;
Whereas Corporal Cyr was assigned to the 10th Pathfinder Detachment in May of 
        1970 and served as a Special Operations Pathfinder until January 1972;
Whereas in February 1971, Corporal Cyr's Pathfinder Unit was tasked with 
        supporting Operation Dak Soo Ri 71-1, a joint operation with Korean 
        infantry units;
Whereas, on February 23, 1971, Corporal Cyr was the Pathfinder air traffic 
        controller and cargo loadmaster for four flights and twelve landing 
        pickup zones for the Operation, including the primary insertion point;
Whereas this Operation involved the insertion of over 1,000 Korean soldiers from 
        two divisions and 31 sling loads of cargo transported by 35 helicopters 
        over the course of the evening of February 23, 1971;
Whereas Corporal Cyr was responsible for coordinating incoming helicopter 
        flights and providing accurate on-the-ground information to the pilots, 
        essentially operating as a one-man air traffic control tower inside a 
        combat zone;
Whereas Corporal Cyr's leadership and execution enabled the mission to be 
        completed in a minimum time period with no damaged cargo or casualties;
Whereas Corporal Cyr's actions were hailed by helicopter pilots and officers 
        from the inserting battalions;
Whereas Corporal Cyr's actions on February 23 epitomized the Pathfinder motto of 
        ``First in, Last out,'';
Whereas William P. Murphy, Commander of the 10th Pathfinder Detachment, 
        submitted a recommendation for the award of a Bronze Star to Corporal 
        Cyr to 10th Combat Aviation Battalion Commander, Captain Charles E. 
        Markham;
Whereas Captain Markham approved the recommendation and submitted it to 17th 
        Aviation Group Commander, Lieutenant Colonel Jack A. Walker;
Whereas Lieutenant Colonel Walker approved the recommendation;
Whereas the 10th Pathfinder Detachment began to stand down in December 1971 and 
        deactivated in January 1972, before Corporal Cyr could be awarded the 
        Bronze Star; and
Whereas Corporal Cyr's initial award was lost as a result of the deactivation: 
        Now, therefore, be it
    Resolved, That the House of Representatives--
            (1) honors the heroism of Corporal Gary Andrew Cyr to 
        successfully insert troops and ammunition on time and on 
        target; and
            (2) believes the United States Army, in light of new 
        information, should consider revisiting decorating and honoring 
        the courage and leadership of Corporal Gary Andrew Cyr.
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