medical battalion composed entirely of helicopter ambulance and ground ambulance units was developed. This battalion would have sole responsibility for combat evacuation, both air and ground within its area of operation. To implement this concept, the 61st Medical Battalion was organized at Qui Nhon during January 1970 and assigned a mix of an air ambulance company, helicopter ambulance detachments, ground ambulance companies and ground ambulance detachments. After a three-month period of testing and observation of the 61st Medical Battalion, the 58th Medical Battalion was organized at Long Binh along similar lines. This concept provided a better utilization of evacuation assets, improved response, improved maintenance and better command and control. Direct command, control and supervision was provided by a senior experienced Medical Service Corps aviator with extensive experience in medical evacuation, both ground and air. Abandoned at the end of the war, the concept would be revived again in the 1990s based on lessons re-learned during Operation Desert Storm. S-1 Decorations Awarded by Month (Note 1) Abbreviation: AM=Air Medal; ARCOM=Army Commendation Medal; BSM=Bronze Star Medal; w/V=awarded for Valor The brigade S-1 also processed eight Distinguished Flying Crosses and two Legions of Merit in January and eleven Distinguished Flying Crosses and three Legions of Merit in February, although these were passed to USARV for final approval, as the brigade commander did not have approval authority for those awards. S-3 January and February 1970 were spent planning, and then executing, Operation Keystone Bluejay, the third increment of troop withdrawals from Vietnam. Additionally, the 57th Medical Detachment (RA) was relocated from Lai Khe to Binh Tuy, effective 19 February, the first of many unit relocations during the year, the rest of which would be executed under the auspices of USAMEDCOMV. Medical Regulating Hospitalization Statistics for 1970 WIA=Wounded in Action DNBI=Disease and Non-Battle Injury Patients admitted in one month may be discharged, evacuated, or die in a subsequent month Average Daily Census of Vietnamese Civilians Average Daily Operating Beds (All Patients) 1970 Aeromedical Evacuation Aeromedical Evacuation Statistics 1970 (Note 1) Abbreviations: FWMAF=Free World Military Assistance Forces; ARVN=Army of the Republic of Vietnam S-4 Customer Demand Satisfaction Rate The primacy indicator of supply responsiveness and effectiveness was the customer demand satisfaction rate. The rate for standard stocked items for December 1969 was 89.1%. The rate for non-standard stocked items was not as high as for standard stocked items. This was to be expected since the items