[Congressional Record Volume 145, Number 77 (Wednesday, May 26, 1999)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1101]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]


                       TRIBUTE TO GILBERT COLLIER

                                 ______
                                 

                           HON. MARION BERRY

                              of arkansas

                    in the house of representatives

                        Wednesday, May 26, 1999

  Mr. BERRY. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor a great Arkansan, a man 
who served our country in the Korean War, and is a Medal of Honor 
recipient, Mr. Gilbert Collier.
  Mr. Collier served as a Sergeant in U.S. Army's Company F, 223d 
Infantry Regiment, 40th Infantry Division near Tutayon, Korea in 1953. 
Sergeant Collier was pointman and assistant leader of a combat patrol. 
While serving his country in Korea, he was injured after he and his 
commanding officer slipped and fell from a steep, 60-foot cliff and 
were injured. Although he suffered a badly sprained ankle and painful 
back injury, Sergeant Collier stayed with his leader and ordered the 
patrol to return to the safety of friendly lines. Before daylight, 
Sergeant Collier and his commanding officer managed to crawl back up 
and over the mountainous terrain to the opposite valley where they 
concealed themselves in the brush until nightfall, then edged toward 
their company positions. Shortly after they were ambushed, Sergeant 
Collier received painful wounds after killing two hostile soldiers. He 
was also separated from his leader. Sergeant Collier ran out of 
ammunition and was forced to attack four hostile infantrymen with his 
bayonet. He was mortally wounded but made a valiant attempt to reach 
and assist his leader in a desperate effort to save his comrade's life 
without regard for his own personal safety.
  This Memorial Day, all Americans will honor the men and women who 
fought for our country. I would like to pay a special tribute today to 
Sergeant Collier, who's life has been committed to the principles of 
duty, honor, and country. He is a courageous and outstanding Arkansan, 
who exemplifies the meaning of bravery and is truly a great American 
hero.

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