[Congressional Record Volume 145, Number 131 (Friday, October 1, 1999)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E2013]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]


                    HONORING A FALLEN DRUG WAR HERO

                                 ______
                                 

                            HON. DAN BURTON

                               of indiana

                    in the house of representatives

                        Friday, October 1, 1999

  Mr. BURTON of Indiana. Mr. Speaker, in March of 1998, Colombian 
National Police (CNP) Captain Wilson Quintero left his base in San Jose 
del Guaviare for the last time. As he took off in his Vietnam-era UH-1H 
Huey helicopter, he saluted the ground crew, and left on his mission to 
fly cover for U.S.-sponsored eradication spray planes. Something all 
too familiar happened that day. Captain Quintero's aging chopper was 
shot down by the terrorist group, the Armed Revolutionary Forces of 
Colombia (FARC).
  As his chopper was going down, Captain Quintero radioed for help, and 
proceeded to crash-land his helicopter without severely injuring his 
crew. Another helicopter landed to take away the injured CNP officers. 
The helicopter had parts which were deemed to be salvageable, and the 
decision was made to leave six CNP officers overnight to guard the 
aging Huey. Captain Quintero chose to stay with his chopper, feeling it 
was his responsibility.
  At dawn the next morning, several CNP Hueys landed near the crash 
site to pick up Captain Quintero. The sight they came upon was 
gruesome. Three of the six CNP officers were found with their hands 
tied behind their backs, face down with bullet holes in the back of 
their heads. They had been executed by the FARC terrorists. Captain 
Quintero and the others had been taken hostage by the FARC terrorists.
  Over the next 18 months his family waited for any word that he was 
alive. None came.
  In early September 1999, Captain Quintero escaped from his FARC 
terrorist captors. He stayed on the run through the triple canopy 
jungles of northeastern Colombia for the next two weeks. The FARC, 
fearing a successful escape, launched an all-out effort to find Captain 
Quintero. Captain Quintero did not give-in easily. He was shot 35 times 
in his last standoff, finally murdered by FARC terrorists. Two fellow 
CNP counter-narcotics officers were also found executed near Captain 
Quintero's body.
  The CNP, who knew he was on the run, did everything in their power to 
find him. Every ill-equipped helicopter and aging aircraft was given 
the recovery of Captain Quintero as a top priority. Unfortunately these 
aircraft were not able to find him in time.
  Captain Quintero is survived by his wife, Carmen Elisa Quintero and 
two-year old daughter Laura Andrea Quintero Nunez. I extend to his 
family my deepest sympathy. Mr. Speaker, I ask that Congress take a 
moment to recognize the service Captain Wilson Quintero has done for 
our country. Captain Quintero is truly a hero. May he rest in peace.

                          ____________________