28-05-2025
Vietnam Dustoff Pilot to Be Honored During National Memorial Day Concert
Co-hosted by Tony Award winner Joe Mantegna and Emmy Award winner Gary Sinise—steadfast champions of veterans' causes and active service members—the National Memorial Day Concert, airing live on May 25 from the West Lawn of the U.S. Capitol, honors the courage, sacrifice, and service of the nation's military personnel and their families, and pays tribute to all those who have given their lives in defense of the United States.
'Most of us Vietnam guys, because of the circumstances that were going on when we came back, it was not in our best interest to do a lot of talking about where we had gone, what we had seen, and that sort of stuff because there was a whole lot of animosity about that war, so we just didn't bring it up,' Retired U.S. Army Col. Otis Evans said in an interview with The Epoch Times a few days before he and the courageous
Army Air Ambulance Units of the Vietnam War
were to be honored at the concert.
At great risk and danger under enemy fire, helicopter pilot Evans and his crew rescued wounded troops in remote locations. Commonly called 'Dustoff,' their radio call sign, these life-saving air medevac units are estimated to have evacuated 900,000 casualties during the war.
'We had a job to do and we were gonna do it because if you didn't do it, you weren't living up to the standards,' Evans, now 81, said. 'We never questioned the mission, we just did it.'
Evans, who comes from a long line of military service—including his grandfather in World War I, his father in World War II, two brothers also in Vietnam, and a son in Iraq and Afghanistan—served 12 of his 27 years in the military as a Dustoff pilot.
He earned a Silver Star, the Distinguished Flying Cross with one oak leaf cluster, a Bronze Star, and the Air Medal with numeral 9. After serving in Vietnam, Evans continued to demonstrate excellence as a Dustoff pilot in the United States, the Republic of Korea, and the Federal Republic of Germany.
It was not the life Evans, who
grew up in Brenham, Texas, and attended Prairie View A&M University,
had imagined.
'
When I went to college my whole goal was to go to the agricultural part of it and come out of there and become a dairy farmer,' he said. 'That's what I really wanted to do.'
The offer of an Army Reserve Officers' Training Corps (ROTC) scholarship—in exchange for four years of active Army service—changed all that. It's there where
the 'dedication to an idea or a line of service' took root in him.
'I didn't grow up thinking that I was going to have a military career. That wasn't my makeup at that time,' Evans said. 'But once I got introduced to it and started to meet and make friends in the organization, and then got thoroughly acquainted with the mission, the natural inclination was to stay there.'
Service Became His Calling
As he got more entrenched in Army life, Evans realized he was exactly where he should be.
'One of the things that I've learned about life is that if on Sunday afternoon at three o'clock, you're not looking forward to going to work, you're in the wrong business,' he said. 'I always look forward to Monday morning.'
When Evans looks back on his journey, he's appreciative of how it all turned out, even if he never became a dairy farmer.
'I'm glad I wasn't in charge of making all the decisions for my life because I knew I would have screwed it up,' he said. 'Things happened and they happened for the best and I got through it to some degree of success and I'm pleased over that.'
Courtesy of Capital Concerts, Inc.
That 'some degree of success' is putting it modestly as Evans was recognized by the United States Congress with the Congressional Veterans Commendation for his selfless service to both the U.S. Army and his civilian community. On March 23, 2024, he was inducted into the Dustoff Hall of Fame.
'It was never my intention to be a helicopter ambulance pilot. I didn't plan to do that,' he said.
'But I joined the Army Medical Service and kind of got roped into flight school. because I thought I wasn't gonna pass [the preparatory test]. I figured I'd take it and get the half day off and I'd be good. But somehow I passed the test. The next thing you know, I'm in flight school ... And then I'm in Vietnam. For medical service officers, the only thing that they were going to let us do was fly helicopter ambulances. Once I was in it, you gotta make the best of it.'
Otis Evans
Courtesy of Capital Concerts, Inc.
Evans is still 'in it'—attending reunions as a member of the 'Dustoff Association' and
Vietnam Helicopter Pilots Association when he can.
'There is a kindredship that we maintain,' he acknowledged.
During his few days in Washington, he hopes to connect with Army friends.
'I'll call them up and let them entertain me for a day,' Evans said with a laugh. He will be joined on the trip by his wife of almost 60 years, Rosalyn, and his son and daughter-in-law.
Live From the West Lawn of the Capitol
Scheduled performers for this inspiring night of remembrance include country music star and wounded Army combat veteran Scotty Hasting; Grammy Award-winning gospel music legend Yolanda Adams; and the National Symphony Orchestra, under the direction of top pops conductor Jack Everly.
In tribute to all members of the armed forces, the audience favorite 'Salute to Services' will feature the Joint Chiefs of Staff and service color teams. Also participating are members of the U.S. Army Herald Trumpets, the U.S. Army Chorus, the Soldiers' Chorus of the U.S. Army Field Band, the U.S. Navy Band Sea Chanters, vocalists from the Quantico Marine Band, the U.S. Air Force Singing Sergeants, and the Armed Forces Color Guard provided by the Military District of Washington.
The concert will air from 8 to 9:30 p.m. ET on PBS, and it will also be broadcast to U.S. troops serving around the world via American Forces Network. The event will be streamed on YouTube and at
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