[Congressional Record Volume 145, Number 112 (Tuesday, August 3, 1999)]
[Senate]
[Page S10069]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                TRIBUTE TO CAPTAIN JENNIFER SHAFER ODOM

  Ms. MIKULSKI. Mr. President, it is with great sadness that I rise to 
pay tribute to the life of Captain Jennifer Shafer Odom. She died on a 
mountainside in Colombia--where she was defending our Nation and our 
values.
  This morning, her grieving family is at Dover Air Force Base--to 
bring their daughter home for the last time.
  On July 23, Captain Odom was on an Army reconnaissance plane that was 
flying near a major drug-producing region of Colombia. During bad 
weather, the plane crashed into a mountainside--killing the five 
Americans and two Colombians on board. These brave soldiers were 
casualties in our war against drugs. They were fighting to keep drugs 
off our streets and out of our schools. They know that this is 
essential to our national security and our national values.
  Captain Odom grew up in Brunswick, Maryland. She was a valedictorian 
at Brunswick High School. She was active in so many areas--from sports 
to theater.
  As a scholar, an athlete and a leader--it's not surprising that she 
chose to attend the U.S. Military Academy at West Point. She wanted to 
use her many talents to serve her country.
  She graduated from West Point in the top quarter of her class. She 
served in the United States Army with valor and distinction--raising to 
rank of Captain.
  But it is not just for her accomplishments that she will be missed. 
I've spoken to her family several times in the past few days. What 
comes across is their pride in the kind of person that she was. She was 
so dear to her friends and neighbors that the entire community joined 
in a prayer chain to pray for her and for her family.
  Captain Jennifer Shafer Odom served our country with distinction. Her 
courage and her sacrifice remind us that our freedom abides in the 
heroism of pilots like Captain Odom.
  Her death was a tragedy--but her life was a triumph. She leaves 
behind a grieving husband, and her heartbroken parents. I ask my 
colleagues to join me in keeping Captain Odom and her family in our 
prayers.

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