Fleet Air Support Unit, Binh Thuy, Republic of Vietnam, was awarded the Navy Unit Commendation award Feb. 1 during a ceremony at the Naval Station Everett (NSE) auditorium.

The award was given to recognize the unit’s meritorious service from Sep. 1, 1969 to June 30, 1971 while engaged in armed conflict against enemy forces in the Mekong Delta Region of the Republic of Vietnam. The unit supported Helicopter Attack (light) squadron THREE and Light Attack Squadron FOUR in the areas of supply, maintenance, ordinance, and airfield control while working under extreme climatic and environmental conditions, erratic supply support, and the ever-present threat of enemy terrorist ground and mortar attacks.

The award also recognized the unit for maintaining a complete aviation supply department in a high state of readiness, controlling a daily average of 306 airfield operations and maintaining 141 pieces of ground support equipment.

“By their courage, professionalism and unswerving devotion to duty, the officers and men of Fleet Air Support Unit, Binh Thuy upheld the highest traditions of the United States Naval Service,” According to the citation written by the acting Secretary of the Navy John W. Warner.

Capt. Pat Rios, commanding officer Naval Facilities Engineering Command, (NAVFAC) presented the award to John Chaput, A NAVFAC employee, and retired Navy Veteran assigned to Fleet Air Support Unit Binh Thuy during the Vietnam War.

After receiving the award, Chaput spoke about how the award brought him closure, and how we should learn from past experiences.

“A lot of guys came back from Vietnam with a lot of different situations, and I hope that we could use those Veterans’ returns as a learning experience to get the guys coming back from war now better treatment,” said Chaput.