Pete Sessions

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor Colonel William Kermit Brock of Waco, Texas, with a 2026 Congressional Veteran Commendation. William's distinguished 33-year career as a chaplain in the United States Army and Army Reserve, years of service to fellow veterans and the Waco community, and lifelong commitment to the next generation exemplify the character, leadership, and dedication worthy of this recognition.

Born in Darke County, Ohio, and raised in northern Indiana as the youngest of five brothers in a farm family, William graduated from a small high school with a class of only fourteen students. Two of William's older brothers were drafted into the Navy during World War II, so military service was part of his family long before it became his own. William attended Indiana Central College, now the University of Indianapolis, and then United Theological Seminary in Dayton, Ohio. When a fellow seminary student invited William to fill out the paperwork for the Army chaplaincy, his application was approved, and he was commissioned on September 4, 1958. After serving a church in northern Indiana for two years, William came on active duty in 1961 as the Berlin crisis led the Army to expand its chaplain program.

William's service took him across the country and around the world. William began at Fort Riley, Kansas, with the 1st Infantry Division, and then served in Germany, with rotations to Wildflecken and Berlin in the years just after the Berlin Wall went up. In Berlin, William counseled soldiers, led Sunday school and youth programs, and visited the stockade each week to show films to the prisoners. William later served with an air defense missile battalion in Giessen, Germany, then at Fort Carson, Colorado, and in Korea as the support command chaplain. At Fort Myer, Virginia, William conducted funerals at Arlington National Cemetery every weekday, more than 580 in all, standing with families on some of the hardest days of their lives.

In 1972 and 1973, William served in Vietnam as the senior chaplain for Military Region Three. As other chaplains left the country, William became the only chaplain covering roughly one-fourth of the land area of Vietnam, traveling by helicopter on weekends to reach small outposts where soldiers had no one else to turn to. William led the memorial service for a fellow service member, William Nolde, who is remembered in the history books as the last American casualty of the Vietnam War. When

the peace agreement was signed in January 1973, William was among the last Americans to leave, and he believes he was the last chaplain to depart the region.

After Vietnam, William served as the only chaplain at Savanna Army Depot in Illinois and later ministered to soldiers at sixteen Nike Hercules missile sites and a Pershing missile site in Germany. Following active duty, William continued to serve in the Army Reserve, including as group chaplain for a Civil Affairs unit with subordinate units across Texas and Missouri. William retired in 1991 as a Colonel after 33 years of service.

William's commitment to service did not end with the uniform. William went on to a career as a chaplain with the Department of Veterans Affairs, spending four years in Miami, Florida, before moving to Waco, Texas. In Waco, William worked alongside counselors in the early days of the post-traumatic stress program, helping veterans, many of them Vietnam veterans, work through guilt and grief at a time when the Nation was only beginning to understand what they carried home.

William has also given generously to the community through talents learned during military service. William learned to perform magic tricks and to play the bagpipes, and he continued to share both long after retirement, performing at funerals, parades, and other occasions. William served as a Scoutmaster with Scouting America, and as a past commander of the Military Order of the World Wars, he has sponsored students in the organization's leadership training program, investing in the young leaders who will carry our country forward.

William's family has been central to his life of service. William and his wife, Evelyn, raised two daughters, Karen and Cheryl, through many moves and assignments at home and abroad. Their family exemplifies the sacrifice and strength of the military families who stand behind every servicemember.

William's life is ultimately defined not simply by the honors received, but by the way he has continued to serve, mentor, and comfort others. Asked what young people should take from his story, William spoke with humility of the camaraderie of fellow chaplains and encouraged young Americans not to fear military service. From the front lines of the Cold War and Vietnam to the graveside and the hospital ward, William has demonstrated an unwavering sense of duty and devotion to country.

It is this extraordinary record of military service, ministry, mentorship, and volunteerism that I proudly commend Colonel William Kermit Brock of Texas to friends, family, community, and country. It is my honor to recognize William with a 2026 Congressional Veteran Commendation from the 17th Congressional District of Texas.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor Colonel Donald ``Don'' R. Schreiber of Waco, Texas, with a 2026 Congressional Veteran Commendation. Don's distinguished career in the United States Air Force, years of service to fellow veterans and the Waco community, and lifelong commitment to our Nation exemplify the character, leadership, and dedication worthy of this recognition.

Born in Seattle, Washington, and raised on Whidbey Island by a devoted mother after the early loss of Don's father, Don attended Washington State University and joined Air Force ROTC. Encouraged by a trainer who noted that Don had the best eyesight of all the applicants, Don pursued a pilot slot and excelled in every screening. Don was commissioned in 1964 and completed pilot training at Vance Air Force Base in Oklahoma, beginning a distinguished 28-year career that culminated in Don's attaining the rank of Colonel.

Don's military service included some of the most demanding assignments of his generation. After flying the RF-4C reconnaissance jet across Europe from RAF Alconbury in England, Don volunteered for Vietnam. From 1967 to 1968, Don flew 100 combat missions over North Vietnam from Udorn, Thailand, as part of one of the youngest aircrews in Southeast Asia. On November 19, 1967, Don flew a low-level reconnaissance mission over Hanoi through heavy surface-to-air missile fire, earning the Silver Star. Don later flew the KC-135 tanker and the U-2 reconnaissance aircraft, supporting intelligence missions around the world during the Cold War. Throughout his career, Don held significant leadership positions, including commanding the U-2 detachment at Osan Air Base in Korea, serving as Deputy Director of the Strategic Air Command Reconnaissance Center, commanding the U-2, SR-71, and T-38 training squadron at Beale Air Force Base in California, and serving as Vice Wing Commander and then Wing Commander at Beale.

Don continued to distinguish through advanced military education and professional achievement. Don attended the Air Force Command and Staff College and earned a master's degree from Troy State University, later completing Air War College. Don also served as a staff officer with the Air Force Technical Applications Center, focusing on airborne nuclear detection systems. Don's extraordinary military service was recognized with numerous awards and decorations, including the Legion of Merit, Silver Star, Distinguished Flying Cross with three Oak Leaf Clusters, Air Medal with sixteen Oak Leaf Clusters, and other unit and service commendations. In 1989, Don became the commander of Air Force ROTC at Baylor University and retired from the Air Force in 1992 after 28 years of service.

Don's commitment to service did not end with military retirement. Don went on to a second career as a professor in the Marketing and Management Department of Baylor University's business school, teaching for 26 years before retiring in 2016. In this role, Don found fulfillment in preparing generations of young Americans for professional success, continuing the leadership and service that had defined Don's military career.

Don's family has been central to this life of service. Married since December 1968, Don and his wife raised three daughters, Laura, Kirsten, and Erin, through many moves and long deployments. All three daughters graduated from Baylor University, and together Don and his wife are now proud grandparents of thirteen grandchildren. Don's family exemplifies the sacrifice and strength of the military families who stand behind every servicemember.

Don has also devoted more than three decades to the local community and fellow veterans. Since arriving in Waco in 1989, Don has served as a past President of the Military Officers Association of America, a past Flight Captain of the Daedalian Society, and a past President of the Baylor Bear Foundation. Don helped organize the third Red River Rats convention and serves as a member and usher of First United Methodist Church. Don's commitment to service has been reflected in countless volunteer roles that have strengthened Central Texas.

Don's life is ultimately defined not simply by the honors received, but by the way he has continued to lead, mentor, and serve others. From distinguished service as an Air Force aviator and combat veteran to years of teaching, volunteering, and supporting fellow veterans, Don has demonstrated an unwavering sense of duty and devotion to country.

It is this extraordinary record of military service, leadership, teaching, volunteerism, and continued commitment to fellow Americans that I proudly commend Colonel Donald R. ``Don'' Schreiber of Waco, Texas to friends, family, community, and country. It is my honor to recognize Don with the 2026 Congressional Veteran Commendation from the 17th Congressional District of Texas.

Mr. Speaker, I rise to present Corporal Tom Gene Fordyce of Huntsville, Texas, with a 2026 Congressional Veteran Commendation. His life of service reflects the hard work, dedication, and commitment that exemplify the very best of our East Texas values.

Tom Fordyce entered active duty at Camp Pendleton, California, in June 1966 at the age of eighteen. He served with Company C, 1st Battalion, 26th Regiment, 3rd Division of the Marine Corps. During the Vietnam War, Tom served with honor and heroism at Khe Sanh, where he sustained a severe injury to his left arm that rendered it permanently unusable. His military service instilled in him a resilience and commitment to mission and purpose that he has carried throughout his life.

Tom served two years overseas in combat and earned numerous military honors, including the Purple Heart Medal, Vietnam Service Medal, Vietnam Campaign Medal, National Defense Service Medal, Rifle Sharpshooter Badge, Good Conduct Medal, and Combat Action Ribbon. He completed Infantry Training and the Anti-Tank Assaultman's Course in 1966, followed by Combat Marksmanship training in 1968. Following his military service, Tom graduated from Sam Houston State University in 1972 and went on to build a distinguished career with the Texas Department of Criminal Justice spanning more than three decades. He retired in 2005 as Department Head of the Agriculture and Minerals Division. That same year, he was appointed by Governor Rick Perry to serve as a board member of the Trinity River Authority, a position he held for many years. Tom also served as a Commissioner for the Texas Board of Pardons and Paroles and currently serves as a member of the Texas Board of Criminal Justice, having been appointed by Governor Greg Abbott.

Tom's commitment to veterans is equally remarkable. In 2010, he founded the Warrior Banquet in conjunction with the Mighty Oaks Foundation, where he currently serves as Chief of Special Projects and a board member. Through this work, he helps advance the organization's faith-based mission of providing peer-to-peer mentoring and recovery programs for combat veterans and military families dealing with PTSD.

Tom has also devoted himself to strengthening his hometown of Huntsville and supporting its youth. In 2014, he was named the Huntsville Item's Unsung Hero in recognition of his persistent involvement with veterans and the community, as well as his support of local youth in agriculture. Throughout the years, Tom and his family have continued to give back to their community and encourage others to help make Huntsville a better place. His community service has included leadership and board roles with the H.E.A.R.T.S. Veterans Museum, Walker County Fair Association, Lone Survivor Foundation, and Huntsville Veterans Advisory Council.

As a Marine, Tom was guided and shaped into the man we know today. Behind every great man, however, is a great woman, and Tom has been married to Sharon for 32 years. Together, they are the proud parents of four adult children: Stephanie, Michael, Lauren, and Tyler. The love and inspiration of his family, along with God's blessings, have helped shape Tom into a neighbor, hero, and trusted source of wise counsel to countless citizens and elected officials throughout Huntsville.

It is this lifetime of hard work, service, leadership, and devotion to his community, veterans, and its youth that I proudly commend Tom Gene Fordyce of Huntsville, Texas, to his friends, family, community, and country. It is my honor to recognize him with the 2026 Congressional Veteran Commendation.