[Congressional Record Volume 142, Number 1 (Wednesday, January 3, 1996)]
[House]
[Page H53]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




            BEGOSH BECOMES FIRST AMERICAN CASUALTY IN BOSNIA

  (Mrs. MORELLA asked and was given permission to address the House for 
1 minute and to revise and extend her remarks.)
  Mrs. MORELLA. Mr. Speaker, on Saturday, one of my constituents, 23-
year old Specialist Martin John Begosh of Rockville, a graduate of 
Wheaton High School, became the first American casualty of the 
President's deployment of United States troops to Bosnia.
  Specialist Begosh and his patrol in the 709th military police 
battalion were reconnoitering roads in the Tuzla area when his Humvee 
ran over a land mine. He was lucky not to have been killed; as it is, 
he may be permanently disabled because the blast shattered much of the 
bone in his right foot.
  I was pleased this weekend to speak with Specialist Begosh's parents, 
who expressed great relief that their son was out of harm's way, as 
well as great pride in their son's devotion to duty and country and in 
his being awarded the purple heart--let us hope it is the only one that 
need be presented in the Bosnia operation.
  This weekend, Specialist Begosh's grandparents will be celebrating 
their fiftieth anniversary. I have written to the Secretary of the Army 
asking that, if he is fit to travel, Specialist Begosh be evacuated to 
the Washington area in time to join his family for this special event. 
I hope that this request will be approved.

                          ____________________