DOVER — John Sabanosh, a UH-1 “Huey” crew chief and pilot who flew more than 1,000 lifesaving combat missions and saved more than 350 American lives, will be the keynote speaker May 30 at a Memorial Day observance.

The Kent County chapter of Vietnam Veterans of America will host the event, at 2 p.m. at Kent County Veterans Memorial Park, 760 S. Little Creek Road in Dover.

Mr. Sabanosh’s remarks will be delivered near the Huey on display in the park.

The emcee will be Dave Skocik, a life member of the chapter and president of the Delaware Veterans Coalition.

Joe Startt Jr., chapter president, and Paul Davis, president of the Delaware State Council of the Vietnam Veterans of America, will give welcomes.

A traditional placement of wreaths and recitation of names on the memorial will follow Mr. Sabanosh’s comments.

The retired crew chief, who now lives in Bishopville, Maryland, was deployed to southern Vietnam as a UH-1 mechanic assigned to the 45th Medical Company (Air Ambulance) in Long Binh.

He requested a position as crew chief on a Huey medical evacuation helicopter, known as “Dustoff,” and was immediately assigned to an aircraft, flying medevac missions throughout his tour. Dustoff personnel were assigned on a volunteer basis due to flying unarmed and the high casualty rate.

The motto of the Dustoff crews is “So Others May Live.” As a result of his service in Vietnam and as a Dustoffer, Mr. Sabanosh was awarded the National Defense Medal, the Vietnam Campaign Medal, the Vietnam Service Medal, the Bronze Star, 14 Air Medals and the Distinguished Flying Cross.

In addition to the Memorial Day observance at the park, the VVA chapter is participating with Rotarians on the Field of Flags display at Delaware Technical Community College’s Terry Campus on Scarborough Road in Dover.

The 400 flags were set up Friday, where they will remain until June 1.