[Congressional Record Volume 142, Number 25 (Wednesday, February 28, 1996)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E245-E246]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




   TRIBUTE TO AGENTS PETER HARGRAVES, CHRIS REILLY, AND LARRY SALMON

                                 ______


                        HON. BENJAMIN A. GILMAN

                              of new york

                    in the house of representatives

                      Wednesday, February 28, 1996

  Mr. GILMAN. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to congratulate three special 
agents of the State Department's Bureau of Diplomatic Security, Peter 
Hargraves, Chris Reilly, and Larry Salmon, who received Valor Awards at 
the U.S. Department of State on February 15. I was pleased to have a 
member of my staff represent me at this very moving awards ceremony 
where Secretary Warren Christopher presided. The Valor Award is one of 
the Department of State's highest awards and is given to those 
employees who demonstrate exceptional bravery in the face of life-
threatening danger. Special Agents Hargraves, Reilly, and Salmon 
exhibited particular noteworthy courage in 1995 in their efforts to 
ensure the safe and secure conduct of U.S. foreign policy abroad. I am 
pleased to take this opportunity to recognize these three courageous 
public servants. At a June 29, 1995, oversight hearing on the 
Diplomatic Security Bureau, our House International Relations Committee 
heard about the details of some of the courage of these agents and 
their sacrifices in the service of their Nation. I am pleased to see 
they have been further honored by the Secretary of State.
  Special Agent Peter Hargraves was the former Regional Security 
Officer assigned to the U.S. Embassy in Sarajevo. On August 19, 1995, 
Special Agent Hargraves was accompanying a United States peacekeeping 
delegation to Sarajevo for a meeting with the Bosnian Government. 
During the trek to Sarajevo over the dangerous Mt. Igman Road, one 
vehicle in the convoy, its weight too much for the road's shoulder, 
began a fatal spin down the mountain. The vehicle stopped 500 meters 
later. Special Agent Hargraves, who managed to get out of the vehicle, 
disregarded his own severe personal injuries and repeatedly returned to 
the burning vehicle in an effort to save others. After pulling one 
individual from the wreckage, his efforts were halted when the vehicle 
exploded. Special Agent Hargraves is still recovering from injuries 
suffered in this accident, which claimed the lives of three U.S. peace 
negotiators. Special Agent Hargraves is a true American hero. The 
citation on his award reads, ``For exceptional bravery and heroic 
devotion to your colleagues, in support of efforts to bring peace to 
the peoples of Bosnia.''
  Special Agency Chris Reilly was the former Regional Security Officer 
assigned to the United States Embassy in Bujumbura. On June 14, 1995, 
Special Agency Reilly accompanied United States Ambassador to Burundi 
Robert Krueger and former Burundian Foreign Minister Jean Marie 
Ngendahayo, on a fact-finding mission to the province of Cibitoke in 
northwestern Burundi. Late in the afternoon, during the return trip to 
Bujumbura, the eight vehicle motorcade came under heavy automatic 
weapons fire from at least two unidentified gunman. Special Agent 
Reilly immediately instructed the Burundian driver to leave the area. 
The driver froze. Special Agent Reilly, sitting in the front 
passenger's seat, reached over and shifted the car into reverse and 
stepped on the accelerator. After backing up, he shifted the car to 
drive and managed to get the driver to put his foot on the accelerator 
and leave the area. Our Ambassador, and the Foreign Minister escaped 
injury as a result of the heroic actions of Special Agent Reilly. 
Special Agent Reilly's citation reads,

       For valor during an attack on an official motorcade in 
     Cibitoke province, Burundi, on June 14, 1995. While the 
     Ambassador's vehicle came under heavy automatic weapons fire, 
     your rapid and effective response contributed directly to 
     saving the lives of the Ambassador and the Burundi Foreign 
     Minister. Your actions reflect the highest credit upon you 
     and the Diplomatic Security Service.

  Special Agent Larry Salmon, the Regional Security Officer at the 
United States Embassy in Windhoek, was on temporary assignment in 
Bujumbura, and had accompanied Special Agency Reilly on the trip in 
which the Ambassador's motorcade was attacked on June 14, 1995. Special 
Agent Salmon was driving the unarmored follow car directly behind 
Ambassador Krueger's car. When the attack began, Special Agent Salmon's 
vehicle was peppered with bullets. A Burundian bodyguard sitting in the 
backseat was injured by gunfire, and Special Agent Salmon was hit in 
the right shoulder by shell fragments. Special Agent Salmon spotted one 
of the assailants firing an AK-47 at the convoy. Without hesitation, he 
drew his Smith and Wesson and proceeded to fire six rounds at the 
attacker through the shot-out right rear window. Once Special Agent 
Salmon fired his weapon, the assault stopped. The Ambassador's vehicle 
and the follow car escaped. Special Agent Salmon's quick reaction to 
this attack saved the lives of the two people in his vehicle, and 
contributed to the safe escape of the Ambassador and Foreign Minister. 
His heroic response to such a life threatening situation demands our 
utmost respect. Special Agent Salmon's citation reads,

       For valor during an attack on an official motorcade in 
     Cibitoke province, Burundi, on June 14 1995. While the 
     Ambassador's vehicle came under heavy automatic weapons fire, 
     your rapid and effective response contributed directly to 
     saving the lives of the Ambassador and the Burundi Foreign 
     Minister. Your actions reflect the highest credit upon you 
     and the Diplomatic Security Service.

  Mr. Speaker, I take this opportunity to further recognize and share 
with my colleagues some of the details of the exceptionally courageous 
efforts by these special agents who 

[[Page E246]]
risked their lives to protect American personnel carrying out our 
foreign policy broad. Their actions set the standard for valor in the 
line of duty. These American heroes are a credit to the Bureau of 
Diplomatic Security, the Department of State, and the people of the 
United States of America.
  We must do all we can to protect American personnel abroad who we ask 
to carry out U.S. foreign policy, often in far away, and often 
dangerous places. The Diplomatic Security Bureau and agents like 
Hargraves, Reilly, and Salmon deserve our full support and 
understanding, as they carry out this difficult, and often dangerous 
task.

                          ____________________