[Congressional Record Volume 147, Number 133 (Friday, October 5, 2001)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1812]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




 IN MEMORY OF LIEUTENANT COLONEL KAREN J. WAGNER, U.S. ARMY, KILLED AT 
                   THE PENTAGON ON SEPTEMBER 11, 2001

                                 ______
                                 

                         HON. CIRO D. RODRIGUEZ

                                of texas

                    in the house of representatives

                       Thursday, October 4, 2001

  Mr. RODRIGUEZ. Mr. Speaker, the events of September 11 shocked 
America. The horrible acts of terrorism, designed to kill the maximum 
numbers, woke all of us to the threat of international terrorism. Our 
borders have been violated, and we are not the same today as we were 
before that bright, but terrible, Tuesday morning. We have all felt the 
pangs of discomfort, and the national mood has gone from business as 
usual to mourning.
  None, however, have faced the impact as much as the families of those 
who lost their lives that morning. One such family of so many lives in 
my hometown of San Antonio, and they must now lay to rest their 
precious daughter and sister, whose life and future were cut short at 
the Pentagon on September 11.
  Our Nation will mourn the loss of Lieutenant Colonel Karen J. Wagner, 
a 17-year veteran of the U.S. Army. On October 5, 2001, she will be 
buried with full military honors at Fort Sam Houston National Cemetery 
in San Antonio, Texas.
  Lieutenant Colonel Wagner began her Army service on February 14, 1984 
with a ROTC appointment after graduation from the University of Nevada, 
Las Vegas. She previously received a masters degree in Health Services 
Administration from Webster University.
  Lieutenant Colonel Wagner received her most recent promotion just 
this past August and was last assigned to the Medical Personnel 
Officer, Office of the Army Surgeon General, with duty as the Deputy 
Chief of Staff, Personnel at the Pentagon.
  Her previous assignments included duties as Adjutant for the 85th 
Medical Evacuation Hospital at Fort Lee, Virginia; Executive Officer 
and Company Commander of D Company, 187th Medical Battalion, Fort Sam 
Houston; Chief, Personnel for the 57th Evacuation Hospital at Wurzburg, 
Germany; Chief, Personnel Services Branch at Walter Reed Army Medical 
Center; Personnel Officer assigned to Office of the Army Surgeon 
General; Staff Officer with Inspector General Office, U.S. Army Medical 
Command, Fort Sam Houston, Texas; and Executive Officer and Secretary 
General Staff, Walter Reed Army Medical Center.
  Lieutenant Colonel Wagner was born on February 22, 1961, in Kansas, 
and listed Texas as her home of record. She is survived by her mother 
of San Antonio, Texas, and two brothers and a sister.
  Lieutenant Colonel Wagner was killed because she wore the uniform of 
our Nation's Army, and, like those who perished at the World Trade 
Center, simply because she was an American. She stood up for her 
country and has now paid the ultimate price. We all stand in honor of 
her and the thousands of others who lost their lives on September 11.

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