Floor Statements

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize National Rural Health Month and to highlight the work of the congressional Bipartisan Rural Health Caucus, which I am proud to cosponsor with my colleague, Representative Tokuda from Hawaii.

Over 60 million hardworking, everyday Americans live in rural communities throughout the United States. As my co-chair, Representative Tokuda, is fond of citing, nearly 97 percent of our Nation is designated as rural.

Compared to their counterparts living in urban and suburban areas, rural Americans experience lower life expectancy, poorer health status, and more difficulty accessing quality and affordable healthcare.

Rural patients face these challenges due to a limited number of rural healthcare providers and professionals, higher rates of uninsurance and underinsurance, and long journeys to care providers, sometimes lacking transportation entirely.

Having served as a community pharmacist for over 30 years in east Tennessee, which is a rural area, I understand the unique healthcare challenges and obstacles faced by our patients and healthcare providers each and every day.

It is crucial that Congress takes action to address the issues that rural healthcare providers grapple with such as workforce shortages, supply scarcities, reimbursement challenges, limited access to telehealth, and difficulties ensuring their patients receive the care they need.

The congressional Bipartisan Rural Health Caucus is here to provide a forum for Members of Congress to advocate for legislative action that will help increase access to quality, affordable healthcare and mental health services for all rural Americans.

As co-chair, I will continue my work to advocate for legislation and policies that will ensure long-term sustainability of rural communities.

Earlier this year, I introduced the bipartisan Rural Physician Workforce Production Act, which improves Medicare reimbursement and enhances the current structure of the Medicare-funded graduate medical education program, bringing more medical residents and doctors to rural areas in need.

I also worked with my fellow colleagues from the Tennessee delegation to introduce the Rural America Health Corps Act, which would provide incentives for healthcare professionals to work in rural health facilities in exchange for forgiving medical student loans.

In addition to these bills, I am a proud cosponsor of the Save Rural Hospitals Act, bipartisan legislation that will aid in curbing hospital closures in rural communities by ensuring fairness in Medicare hospital payments.

This legislative work is absolutely critical and complements House Resolution 870, which I introduced with the majority of the Members of the Bipartisan Rural Health Caucus to support the goals and ideas of National Rural Health Day.

National Rural Health Day, the third Thursday of each November, was established to honor rural communities and the contributions and efforts of rural healthcare providers to address the unique challenges faced by the patients they serve.

Given the aforementioned healthcare disparities faced by rural Americans and the continued difficulty experienced by rural healthcare providers in keeping their doors open, it is vital that Congress prioritizes improved patient care and access in rural areas.

Our rural healthcare professionals and patients showcase a selfless and community-minded spirit. It is altogether fitting and proper that we celebrate rural healthcare providers and the millions of Americans that rural healthcare providers serve, and to express a commitment to advancing policy to improve healthcare accessibility and affordability in rural areas in our country.

Mr. Speaker, I thank Representative Tokuda and my colleagues for joining in this cause.

Mr. Chair, I have an amendment at the desk.

Mr. Chair, I yield myself such time as I may consume.

Mr. Chair, I rise to address the Biden administration's reckless decision to use taxpayer dollars to purchase weapons and ammunition for the IRS, which is a tax collection agency.

Last year, the American people were shocked to learn that the Biden administration was providing billions of dollars to the IRS to hire 80,000 new agents, whose job it will be to go after hardworking, middle-class Americans.

The IRS should be focused on assisting our constituents with tax compliance and ensuring Americans receive their entitled refund, not focusing on arming its agents with the aim of further extorting the American taxpayer.

The majority of Americans don't trust the government to be good stewards of their tax dollars. Arming the IRS certainly will not inspire new hope in our system.

Let me make one thing clear. Washington does not have a tax collection problem. It has a spending problem.

By disarming our tax collectors, this amendment offers us an opportunity to refocus the image of the IRS and restore faith in our government. After all, under President Biden, our agencies have been weaponized enough.

Mr. Chair, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. Chairman, I understand why the IRS criminal investigation agents carry weapons. I am looking at a 2019 report where it was reported that by the end of 2017 the IRS already had 4,487 guns and over 5 million rounds of ammunition. I don't know what they need that for.

When we have more agents carrying weapons than we do marines carrying weapons, that is a problem.

Mr. Chairman, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. Chairman, the last thing I heard is that we have a couple people who haven't paid taxes. Hunter Biden is one, and more than likely so is President Biden. The IRS should not be the agency that goes after criminals. That is an agency called the FBI.

If they want to enforce the border with guns, then go after the 8 million plus illegals that are coming across the border and also the known terrorists that we have in this country.

Mr. Chairman, this is my amendment, and I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. Chair, I demand a recorded vote.

Mr. Chair, I have an amendment at the desk.

Mr. Chairman, I rise today to urge my colleagues to support my commonsense amendment which would defund and effectively eliminate the Biden administration's pro-abortion and pro-transgender policy council which is housed in the Executive Office of the President. The Biden administration has declared war on science, basic biology, and the concept of gender.

The American taxpayer should not be funding an office in the White House that is dedicated to spreading this administration's woke DEI agenda. Americans should know what DEI really stands for: division, exclusion, and indoctrination.

Through various directives such as the Department of Education, President Biden has made it abundantly clear that his priorities are not promoting the policies that benefit the majority of Americans but are promoting an extreme agenda.

They are forcing our daughters to compete against biological males in sports, forcing young women to share locker rooms and bathrooms with men, and launching pressure campaigns to encourage minors to take life altering hormones or undergo experimental surgeries.

One must ask: Why are we promoting these radical policies, and why is the taxpayer funding it?

The White House Gender Policy Council's executive director wants to lecture Americans, specifically our children, about her belief that racism and sexism are somehow built into our health system. The White House Gender Policy Council exists in a White House that is incapable of defining what a woman is.

This amendment is as much about curbing wasteful and unnecessary government spending and being good stewards of taxpayer money as it is about putting an end to the Biden administration's far left ideology being forced on Americans and their children.

Mr. Chairman, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. Chairman, I have a question as to why we even

have a gender policy council when that authority should fall under the Department of Health and Human Services under Secretary Becerra. I think it is a redundancy that we do not need.

Mr. Chairman, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. Chair, nowhere in my remarks did I mention the Hyde amendment. I am talking about a gender policy council that should not exist.

For over 40 years we have had the Hyde amendment in place to where American taxpayer dollars didn't go to fund abortion.

Nowhere did I say that a woman shouldn't have a right to do what she wanted to do, but with the Roe v. Wade reversal, that decision went back to the States where it rightly belonged. In my opinion, over the last 40 to 50 years women have been indoctrinated to think it was a constitutional right to abortion, and it never was.

I am here to set the record straight. It went back to the States where it belongs. All I am trying to say is that we need to get rid of the Gender Policy Council. If they want to put that anywhere, HHS is the Department that it should fall under.

Mr. Chair, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. Chair, I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize the James H. Quillen Veterans Affairs Medical Center, known locally as the Mountain Home VA, as they celebrate 120 years of providing unparalleled healthcare and support to our Nation's brave veterans. This facility, located in the heart of Johnson City, Tennessee, opened its doors to its first veteran patient in 1903, marking the inception of over a century of dedication to those who have valiantly served our Nation.

Throughout its history, Mountain Home VA has stood as a pillar of medical excellence and constant support for veterans from all service branches. As our Nation has advanced to a new global military landscape, this facility has always offered a sanctuary, providing critical, compassionate, and comprehensive care to our Nation's heroes.

Our veterans deserve nothing but the utmost care and respect upon returning to civilian life. For 120 years, the Mountain Home VA has done just that, creating a space that not only attends to the physical well-being of our service members but also provides resources to navigate the oftentimes complex journey of post-service life.

Through generations, the dedicated staff of Mountain Home VA have exemplified an unwavering commitment to ensuring that those who have defended America's freedoms are afforded the dignity, respect, and care they have so rightfully earned. From innovative medical treatments, rehabilitative services, to mental health and wellness initiatives, Mountain Home has been at the forefront of advocating for and addressing the needs of our veterans.

As we commemorate this monumental 120-year legacy, let us pay tribute not only to the institution, but to every nurse, doctor, specialist, administrator, and support staff member who has contributed to making Mountain Home VA a beacon of hope and healing for veterans. Your dedication and service have improved the lives of our veterans and their families, and for that, we owe you a debt of gratitude.

I ask my colleagues to join me in honoring Director Dean Borson and the entire staff of Mountain Home VA. We remain steadfast in our commitment to honor the sacrifIce and service of our military men and women, who are forever remembered, valued, and supported.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to celebrate and acknowledge a cornerstone of our community and a leading source of news and information in Northeast Tennessee and surrounding regions, WJHL- TV. This year marks the 70th anniversary of WJHL's dedication to broadcasting excellence.

On October 26, 1953. WJHL made its debut, serving as the first voice of television in Northeast Tennessee and the second station to sign on in our great state. It was the vision and determination of founders Hanes Lancaster, Jr., Hanes Lancaster, Sr., and Jay Birdwell that brought this dream to fruition. Nestled in the heart of downtown Johnson City, WJHL has since been a familiar presence, illuminating our homes with news, information, and entertainment each day.

Over the decades, WJHL has been dedicated to informing, educating, and entertaining over 300,000 households, spanning not just our Tennessee counties of Washington, Sullivan, Carter, Greene, Unicoi, Johnson, and Hawkins, but also extending its reach to into Virginia and Kentucky. The expansive reach of WJHL's signal is a testament to its leadership and trust within the region.

Under the leadership of General Manager Paula Jackson, the station has maintained its commitment to broadcasting excellence. Paula and her team of over 80 employees--writers, producers, reporters, technicians, and staff members--all play a crucial role in ensuring that our region stays connected and informed. Their commitment to integrity, fairness, and community service is more than admirable. For seven decades, the dedicated staff of WJHL has been firm in their mission to report accurate local news that is vital to our region. Their creed is simple: news that matters to you and your family.

Throughout its history, WJHL has seen numerous milestones. For many decades, they have proudly operated as a CBS affiliate. And in February 2016, they expanded their broadcasting network, adding ABC to their second channel, further adding to the content available to their viewers. However, it wasn't just in content where WJHL sought change. In the Fall of 2019, the station embarked on a new chapter, unveiling a state-of-the-art studio, certainly fitting for a station of its legacy. As part of the Nexstar Media Group, WJHL, which encompasses News Channel 11 and ABC Tri-Cities, is poised for continued growth and success.

As they celebrate their 70th anniversary this year, I ask my colleagues to join me in congratulating Paula and the entire WJHL team on 70 years of broadcast excellence. May they continue to shine brightly, informing and uniting our communities for many more years to come.

Mr. Chair, I have an amendment at the desk.

Mr. Chairman, the Democrats have been hard at work revising American history, from the removal of statues to renaming military bases. They truly believe they can and should erase the history and progress we have made since our Nation was founded for their own political benefit.

When Secretary Haaland took over as Secretary of the Interior, she immediately made a point to politicize the Board on Geographic Names through deeming the word ``squaw'' as derogatory. This would entail removing any word containing squaw from any geographic landmark or unincorporated town, resulting in the town of Squawberry in Tennessee's First District to be renamed as Partridgeberry.

I am standing here to argue that the Federal Government has no business renaming towns and erasing our history. This is blatant government overreach, and we should not allow our government to continue to force our revisionist history upon my constituents or anybody else's constituents.

I don't believe the Founding Fathers viewed historical revision as a key function of our government. Changing the name of small towns throughout America, such as Squawberry, is entirely unnecessary.

When historical revisionists are given an inch, they will take a mile. How long will it be until the Department of the Interior decides to remove the mission of Washington or Jefferson from geographic landmarks? I don't trust this administration to act in good faith. They have politicized vast swaths of the government, and the Board on Geographic Names is yet just another victim of those seeking to use our government and its agencies as tools to further their own agenda.

For these reasons, I believe we must prohibit the funding on the Board on Geographic Names and put an end to this woke revisionist policy being forced upon the American public.

Mr. Chair, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. Chairman, I go back to my original statement. The Federal Government has no business renaming towns and erasing our history. That should be left to local and State entities to decide.

Mr. Chair, I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, I rise to honor SP4 Marcus Ray Osborne from Kingsport in Sullivan County, Tennessee for his courageous service in the United States Army during the Vietnam War. After receiving his draft notice, SPC Osborne reported for duty on July 14, 1969, and completed basic and advance infantry training as an infantryman at Fort Gordon with MOS 11B.

By January of 1970, SPC Osborne was assigned to the Americal Division in Chu Lai, Vietnam. For eleven months, he served with Company C 4/31th 196LIB in the surrounding areas of Hiep Duc. SPC Osborne remembers that most of his days were spent ``surviving and making it back home alive.'' SPC Osborne returned home in December 1970 and was honorably discharged from the Army on July 13, 1971.

SPC Osborne remains grateful that he was able to return to his position at Eastman after his military service. SPC Osborne quickly resumed his career and remained with Eastman for almost 40 years until his retirement in 2007. Following his career at Eastman, he worked for a local golf course for 15 years. SPC Osborne's sacrifice to our country continued long after his service as a result of his exposure to Agent Orange in Vietnam. SPC Osborne is blessed and deeply devoted to his loving wife Rita of 48 years, with whom he had one son, Matthew. Matthew and his wife Kelsey have given them ``super loved'' granddaughters, Margaret and Marion.

Please join me in recognizing Specialist 4 Marcus Ray Osborne for his distinguished military service to our great Nation.

Mr. Speaker, I rise to honor Corporal Thomas Ramey of Kingsport in Sullivan County, Tennessee for his heroic military service during the Vietnam War. CPL Ramey reported for duty in the United States Marines in 1968 after receiving his draft notice. He then transferred to Parris Island for Basic Training before joining the Infantry Training Regiment at Camp Lejeune. At Camp Lejeune, CPL Ramey also received training at the Motor Transport School for Jeeps, as well as 6x6 and PC trucks.

The following year, CPL Ramey was assigned to Camp Pendleton to prepare for a combat tour in Vietnam. Traveling across the Pacific, CPL Ramey stopped in Hawaii and Okinawa, Japan, before he finally arrived in Vietnam. During his tour of duty, CPL Ramey was stationed at Hill 327 Marine Base to conduct transportation operations with the 1st Marine Division Battalion 327 in the Transportation Corps.

As a truck driver, CPL Ramey transported everything--from North Vietnamese POWs to ammunition supplies. On August 12, 1969, within weeks of his arrival, CPL Ramey and his unit were ambushed by North Vietnamese Army Sappers in their own compound. Sappers were commando units, who trained to inflict devastating attacks on key road and bridge assets. During this engagement, CPL Ramey saw many of his comrades, including his roommate, pay the ultimate sacrifice in service to our Nation.

Following his tour of duty in Vietnam, CPL Ramey reported to the USS El Paso, where he sailed from Norfolk, VA to Alexandroupolis, Greece. In Greece, he participated in wargaming exercises along with an international coalition of 5 other countries. In 1970, the El Paso was put on standby by President Richard Nixon due to civil unrest in Jordan in preparation for hostage rescue. Shortly after, CPL Ramey was honorably discharged from the U.S. Marine Corps later that year. I join East Tennessee and the Nation in saying thank you to CPL Ramey for his service, and welcome home.

Please join me in recognizing Corporal Thomas Ramey for his bravery, courage, and valiant military service to the United States of America.

Mr. Speaker, I rise to honor Sergeant Malcolm E. Wolcott of Sevierville in Sevier County, Tennessee for his distinguished military service in the United States Air Force during the Vietnam War Era.

SGT Wolcott proudly served our country between March 29, 1965, and October 28, 1968. During his military service, SGT Wolcott received many assignments both domestically and abroad, including Lackland Air Force Base in Texas; Hickam Air Force Base in Hawaii; Griffiss Air Force Base in New York; as well as duties at Clark Air Force Base in Okinawa, Japan; the Philippines; Taiwan; and a temporary duty at Yakota Air Force Base in Japan.

SGT Wolcott honorably served as Security Police, providing security for nuclear weapons storage areas, perimeter security for Presidential and dignitary arrivals, central security as a Control Communications Plotter, and led as an Area Supervisor. During his last assignment, he inspired the next generation of our service members, providing training to new security police arrivals at Griffiss Air Force Base.

Please join me in recognizing Sergeant Malcom E. Wolcott for his distinguished military service to our great Nation.

Mr. Speaker, I rise to honor SP/5 Kenneth Lee Lockhart of Mooresburg in Hawkins County, Tennessee for his valiant service in the United States Army.

SP/5 Lockhart enlisted in the U.S. Army in August of 1969, and was promptly sent to Ft. Jackson, SC, for bootcamp and Ft. Rucker, AL for helicopter school. Immediately after his training, SP/5 Lockhart left for Vietnam, where his first duty station was Vung Tau as a Helicopter Mechanic.

After 6 months, he transferred to the 1st Cavalry Division at Fire Support Base Buttons with the A1/9 1st Cavalry, where he was assigned as a Crew Chief-Door Gunner to a UH-1 D Huey helicopter. Their flights operating as hunter-killer teams, where they provided critical reconnaissance to areas after enemy activity was located. SP/5 Lockhart accumulated a total of 185 hours of flying time, 180 of which were combat assaults, and received the Air Medal and Bronze star for his meritorious achievements.

Please join me in recognizing SP/5 Kenneth Lee Lockhart for his courage and bravery in service of our great Nation.

Mr. Speaker, I rise to honor Corporal William Theodor Turner of the United States Marine Corps of Johnson City in Washington County, Tennessee.

Corporal Turner enlisted, along with his friend Norris Shell, in the United States Marine Corps on May 18, 1956. He went to Boot Camp in Parris Island, South Carolina in May until September of that year. While at Parris Island, he was one of two Marines promoted to the rank of Private First Class. After leaving Parris Island, he was stationed at Camp Geiger/Camp Lejeune for advanced infantry training for approximately one month. After Camp Lejeune, he was transferred to the Sixth Marines, 2nd Division Line Company.

While he was at Camp Lejeune, a Major and a Sergeant came down from Washington, D.C. to recruit candidates for service at 8th and I. Every day, Corporal Turner and his unit drilled for at least a week. The Major and Sergeant asked a selected group of Marines if they were interested in serving at 8th and I. Corporal Turner responded Yes. A stipulation of serving at 8th and I was that whatever rank you held when you first entered that duty remained the same. While at 8th and I, Corporal

Turner was a member of the first Evening Parade. He also participated in President Eisenhower's second Inauguration Parade.

While in Washington, D.C., Corporal Turner began training as part of the Silent Drill Team. He was in the First Platoon. His platoon trained at 8th and I, and at Camp David. As part of their duties, he met foreign dignitaries flying into D.C. at the airport.

After a clearance by the FBI and Secret Service, along with 5 other Marines, Corporal Turner was selected to be in the Presidential Guard. He was assigned to guard the parameter around the President in his office, while at Camp David or anywhere else he may be. President Eisenhower gave each Marine an engraved pin knife with his name on it. Corporal Turner has kept his pin knife to this day.

Corporal Turner's first assignment was to accompany President Eisenhower to Newport, Rhode Island in October of 1957. He was reassigned at this point to the Secret Service. The Secret Service told him to forget everything the Marines had trained him for and that if anyone and they meant anyone entered the area where the President was, he was to shoot them and that they (the Secret Service) would take care of the details. Corporal Turner recollects that he would have probably shot his own grandmother.

While at 8th and I, he represented the United States at a sporting event in Bermuda called the British Tattoo Festival. He flew from Washington, D.C. to Bermuda on the Marine Commandant's private plane. On Corporal Turner's return from Bermuda, the Commandant's private plane or any form of transportation was not available to fly him back to Washington, D.C. The only transport available was a C-119. He was then given one day's parachute training. Upon departure, Corporal Turner received a parachute, shark repellant and a life preserver for the flight across the Atlantic Ocean. Thankfully, he did not have to use any of that assigned equipment.

After 2 years at 8th and I, he earned the rank of Corporal. Following his retirement from active-duty service, Corporal Turner joined the United States Marine Corps Reserves and proudly served his country for another 4 years.

Please join me in thanking Corporal William Theodor Turner for his distinguished military service to the United States of America.

Mr. Speaker, I rise to honor Specialist Donald W. Scalf of Bluff City in Sullivan County, Tennessee for his honorable military service in the United States Army from 1963 to 1965. SPC Scalf proudly served with the 37th Field Artillery Unit in Schwabisch Hall, Germany in support of the 24th Infantry Division following the construction of the Berlin Wall.

As a member of the Communications Section, he managed the switchboard to coordinate phone lines between the 8in Howitzer Batteries and protect from interception by the enemy. SPC Scalf often recollects the memorable experiences he had in Germany, including digging trenches in the deep snow of Southern Germany to maintain switchboard operations or going ahead of the Howitzer guns to prepare for the next position.

Please join me in recognizing Specialist Donald W. Scalf for his distinguished military service to our great Nation.

Mr. Speaker, as a partner of the Vietnam War Commemoration, I recently had the privilege to honor Master Sergeant Willie Manning of Erwin for his distinguished career of service in the United States Air Force. Throughout his multidecade career, Master Sergeant Manning received numerous accolades and awards from his superiors for his outstanding performance and countless mission accomplishments. From achieving the highest level of training in his field as an ``Informational Superintendent'' to his numerous AF Commendation Medals, including for his support to the 9th AF during quality inspections of the 116th Fighter Wings' operational readiness, Master Sergeant Manning proved an invaluable member of our nation's military.

Master Sergeant Manning first began his career as a Clerk Typist in 1971. Stationed at Dobbins Air Force Base, Master Sergeant Manning employed his expertise in quality information management for both operations domestic and abroad. This included ensuring quality maintenance for all forms of information management, from simple communication letters to the most protected forms of classified documentation. And revered for his leadership and computer systems expertise, when the Air Force received new technology, the Georgia State Adjutant General personally asked Master Sergeant Manning to provide the software training to his staff.

However, Master Sergeant Manning always highlights the brotherhood he shared with his comrades as a source of joy and gratitude. In his own words, ``we had each other's back . . . I could be counted on, and I knew I could count on my fellow airmen.'' He fondly remembers his experience flying with officers in F4 and F15 fighter jets as the second seater in appreciation of his administrative efforts; or his ability to pilot Cessna 125, the smallest two-seat single engine aircraft.

After 25 years of distinguished military service, Master Sergeant Manning retired from the U.S. Air Force in 1996 as a Noncommissioned Officer in Charge (NCOIC) of base administration for a fighter wing in Georgia. Following his retirement, Master Sergeant Manning continued to use his skills to benefit his community, assisting the Chamber of Commerce and supporting his local church and nearby senior center. I thank him for his service and sacrifice. Interested Vietnam era veterans and their families can sign up for recognition at: https:// harshbarger.house.gov/.../honoring-vietnam-veterans.

Mr. Speaker, I rise to honor Lieutenant John H. White of Sullivan County for his heroic military service in the United States Navy during the Vietnam War.

Lieutenant White first received his Naval commission as an Ensign in 1966 following his completion of Naval Reserve Officers Training Corps at the Georgia Institute of Technology. He then attended the Communications School at the Naval War College in Newport, Rhode Island and continued his education for Officer Electronics Communications at the Great Lakes Training Center in Waukegan, Illinois.

In March of 1967, Lieutenant White received his first deployment aboard the U.S.S. Pocono (AGC-16), serving in the Communications Department as an assistant communications officer. The U.S.S. Pocono was the command ship for all amphibious forces in the Atlantic Ocean. From September 1968 to September 1969, Lieutenant White served ashore in Chu Lai and Danang, Vietnam with the Military Sea Transportation Service (MSTS), overseeing the arrival of shipping supplies in support of the war effort.

Following his deployment to Vietnam, he joined the Kingsport Naval Reserve Unit, where he served an additional seven years and received the ``Navy Achievement Medal with Combat Distinguishing Device,'' presented by Vice Admiral L.P. Ramage. Lieutenant White recalls his experiences aboard a naval destroyer in the Mediterranean Sea and conducting a Summary Court Marial in Philadelphia as memorable occasions while on active duty in the Reserves. Lt. White resigned in 1976, after having served his country proudly for more than a decade.

Please join me in recognizing Lieutenant White and his valiant military service to the United States of America.

Mr. Speaker, I rise to honor Master Sergeant Donald W. Jackson of Greeneville for his courageous military service during the Vietnam War. Master Sergeant Jackson risked his life to defend this Nation. From 1965 to 1996, Master Sergeant Jackson served in the United States Army, Navy, and National Guard.

Master Sergeant Jackson first began his career as an aircraft mechanic, stationed in Ft. Rucker, Alabama in 1965. The following year, Master Sergeant Jackson received his first tour of duty in the Mekong Delta. Assigned to the 1st Platoon of the 121st Assault Helicopter Company, also known as the Blue Tigers, he assisted the South Vietnamese 9th Infantry division and auxiliary American forces during combat.

In the battlefield, Master Sergeant Jackson's helicopter company made emergency helicopter medical evacuations from ongoing combat operations, and also transported supplies and personnel to remote outposts--often too dangerous to reach by road. Additionally, Master Sergeant Jackson's helicopter company frequently accompanied General Nguen Van Minh, commander of all South Vietnamese forces in the Mekong Delta, and his staff.

Despite suffering an injury in 1967, Jackson extended his tour for another 6 months and served during the Tet Offensive, one of the deadliest battles of the Vietnam War. Master Sergeant Jackson returned from Vietnam in 1968, achieving the rank of a Specialist 5. Committed to protect and defend our Nation, he continued his dedicated career of military service for more than 25 years as a servicemember in the U.S. National Guard, the U.S. Navy, and the U.S. Army Reserves.

Please join me in thanking Master Sergeant Donald W. Jackson for his bravery and distinguished military service to our great Nation.

Mr. Speaker, I rise to honor Sergeant Charles Terrial Williams from Bristol in Sullivan County, TN for his valiant military service in the United States Air Force during the Vietnam War. Sergeant Williams proudly served our country both abroad and domestically from 1969 to 1973.

As a Crew Chief on C-130Es, a military transport aircraft designed to operate from unpaved airstrips, Sergeant Williams was assigned to Tan Son Nhut Air Base in Vietnam, as well as Ching Chan Kang Air Base in Taiwan and Langley Air Base in Virginia. As Crew Chief, he was responsible for assisting supply delivery, relocating Vietnamese civilians out of danger, and retrieving the wounded and deceased.

Among his many acts of heroism, Sergeant Williams prevented a hand grenade from detonation during a relocation operation, and also volunteered his service during a helicopter evacuation under live fire. After 4 years of valiant service, Sergeant Williams was honorably discharged from the U.S. Air Force.

Please join me in thanking Sergeant Charles Terrial Williams for his bravery and heroic military service to our great Nation.