[Congressional Record Volume 147, Number 91 (Wednesday, June 27, 2001)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1227]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




            TRIBUTE TO SERGEANT FIRST CLASS DEBORAH L. THORN

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                            HON. IKE SKELTON

                              of missouri

                    in the house of representatives

                        Wednesday, June 27, 2001

  Mr. SKELTON. Mr. Speaker, let me take this opportunity to 
congratulate Sergeant First Class Deborah Thorn, of Fort Leonard Wood, 
Missouri, who was recently named as the 2001 Army Drill Sergeant of the 
Year. SFC Thorn was chosen out of 2400 drill sergeants across the 
active Army. The Army's drill sergeants are responsible for all initial 
entry training for the Army's 120,000 new recruits annually.
  SFC Thorn enlisted in the Army on her birthday, 3 September 1993 and 
has served in Fort Huachuca, Arizona and Germany before moving to Fort 
Leonard Wood to become a drill sergeant. She has served as a drill 
sergeant for the last 25 months in Alpha Company, 795th MP Battalion, 
14th MP Brigade. She will attend the Advanced Noncommissioned Officer 
Course in July. Following her completion of the course, she will then 
serve a year at Training and Doctrine Command headquarters as an 
advisor to the commander on drill sergeant and basic training matters.
  Mr. Speaker, I know the Members of this body will join me in 
congratulating SFC Thorn for her outstanding dedication and service to 
the U.S. Army. She is a tremendous role model for soldiers, not only at 
Fort Leonard Wood, but across the entire U.S. Army. I join her husband 
Lee and daughter Samantha in wishing SFC Thorn all the best in the days 
ahead.

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