[Congressional Record Volume 145, Number 94 (Tuesday, June 29, 1999)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1432]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




           TRIBUTE TO LIEUTENANT COLONEL GARY ANTHONY CORREIA

                                 ______
                                 

                         HON. HOWARD L. BERMAN

                             of california

                           HON. BARNEY FRANK

                            of massachusetts

                    in the house of representatives

                         Tuesday, June 29, 1999

  Mr. BERMAN. Mr. Speaker, my colleague, Mr. Frank of Massachusetts, 
and I are pleased today to pay tribute to Lieutenant Colonel Gary 
Anthony Correia, a man whose life exemplifies the meaning and spirit of 
leadership. Gary is being honored for 20 years of distinguished service 
in the United States Marine Corps.
  Gary has set an outstanding example for his colleagues in the Corps, 
where he has served with intelligence, skill and dedication. He is 
highly regarded by his peers as an involved, devoted and effective 
Marine.
  Gary is a man of action and accomplishment. A native of New Bedford, 
Massachusetts, he graduated from Boston College in 1979 at the top of 
his class and soon after began his military career. He was commissioned 
a 2nd Lieutenant through the Platoon Leaders Class program and 
following basic school, was designated a Naval Aviator. His hard work 
and tenacity paid off with his rapid advancement through the ranks.
  Gary's notable missions include the ``Flying Tigers'' of VT-26, 
``Crusaders'' of VMFA-122, ``Aggressors'' of H& MS-31 and the ``Black 
Knights'' of VMFA-314. While assigned to the VMFA-314, he was deployed 
to Turkey for Display Determination and SWA for Operations Desert 
Shield/Storm from August 1990 to March 1991.
  Promoted to Major in July of 1991, Gary joined the 7th Marines. In 
December of 1992, he deployed as part of the Ground Combat Element to 
Mogadishu, Somalia for Operation Restore Hope where he was the Officer-
in-Charge of a joint/combined multi-national security force and ten 
Non-Governmental Organization (NGO) that provided humanitarian relief 
to Mogadishu.
  His dedication to duty, his integrity and sense of fair play were 
demonstrated in his role as Executive Officer for a 48 aircraft F/A-18 
Hornet Fleet Readiness Squadron, the largest in the Marine Corps/Navy 
inventory. Gary was instrumental in the squadron achieving over 140,000 
hours of mishap free flight time, a first in the F/A-18 Hornet history.
  Lieutenant Colonel Correia has accumulated more than 3,600 mishap 
free flight hours. His personal decorations include Meritorious Service 
Medal and Gold Star, Air Medal w/combat ``V,'', Strike Flight 1, Navy 
Commendation Medal W/Combat ``V'' and the Navy Achievement. He is the 
1st Cape Verdean Naval Aviator and Marine Aviator and the first Black 
American promoted to rank of Lieutenant Colonel that is an F/A-18 
Hornet Pilot.
  He is married to Tracey, father to Chloe and Chase and the proud son 
of the late Joseph and Eva Correia. It is our distinct honor to ask our 
colleagues to join us in saluting Lieutenant Colonel Gary Anthony 
Correia, a man whose dedication and achievements are a credit to our 
country.

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