[Congressional Record Volume 141, Number 98 (Thursday, June 15, 1995)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1250]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]



[[Page E1250]]

                      A TRIBUTE TO CAPT. IAN WALSH

                                 ______


                        HON. PATRICK J. KENNEDY

                            of rhode island

                    in the house of representatives

                        Wednesday, June 14, 1995
  Mr. KENNEDY of Rhode Island. Mr. Speaker, at 2:08 a.m. Central 
European time, on June 8, 1995, history was made. With unparalleled 
perfection that only comes with countless hours of training and 
preparation, a team of U.S. Marines rescued Air Force Capt. Scott 
O'Grady from behind enemy lines in Bosnia.
  Among the Marines who risked their lives to save Captain O'Grady was 
Capt. Ian Walsh, whose parents, Laurence and Ellen, live in my 
congressional district in Providence, RI. Captain Walsh, 28, who 
piloted the Cobra attack helicopter which led the rescue mission, is no 
stranger to life-threatening missions. Having flown in Somalia and 
Haiti, Captain Walsh has made a typical day's work out of flying into 
hostile territory.
  The rescue of Capt. Scott O'Grady, who courageously eluded the enemy 
for 6 days, was by no means simple. Captain Walsh had to not only fly 
through dense fog and had to remain extremely low in order to avoid 
mountain ranges and power lines, but he also encountered missile and 
gun fire from the Serbians. All this was worth it in once Captain Walsh 
made the first audio contact with the downed fighter pilot. As Captain 
Walsh related later to the Providence Journal-Bulletin, ``It's one of 
those things you train and train and train, and you finally execute, 
and it pays off. I feel like I've actually made a difference--helped 
pull a guy out and saved his life. And that to me is probably the best 
feeling anybody could have.''
  With Captain O'Grady back in friendly hands, there is indeed much to 
celebrate. In our joy, however, we should not forget that men and women 
are still putting their lives on the line for our country every day. 
They are truly heroes and should be recognized as such. I am proud to 
say that Capt. Ian Walsh is one of them.
  As Captain Walsh finishes the remaining 3 months of his tour 
stationed off the embattled shores of Bosnia, I want to let him know 
that this country and his friends are behind him. I wish for Ian a safe 
tour and speedy return home for one of Rhode Island's true heroes. I 
also offer best wishes to his wife, Charlotte of North Carolina, and 
his parents, Laurence and Ellen, all of whom must be very proud of 
Ian's dedication and service to his country.


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