[Congressional Record Volume 147, Number 178 (Thursday, December 20, 2001)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E2350]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




              HONORING MARINE CPL. CHRISTOPHER T. CHANDLER

                                 ______
                                 

                        HON. THOMAS G. TANCREDO

                              of colorado

                    in the house of representatives

                      Wednesday, December 19, 2001

  Mr. TANCREDO. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to pay tribute to Marine Cpl. 
Christopher Chandler--who is without a doubt one of America's finest 
soldiers who fought in Operation Enduring Freedom.
  On Sunday, December 16th, our nation learned that Marine Cpl. 
Christopher Chandler--of the 1st Light Armored Reconnaissance 
Battalion, 1st Marine Division--lost his leg in a land mine explosion 
while guarding explosive-clearing teams at the Kandahar International 
airport in Afghanistan--his mission--to clear unexploded munitions and 
mines to help launch international humanitarian efforts and other 
military operations in the area. Injured with Cpl. Chandler were Sgt. 
Adrian Aranda and Lance Cpl. Nicholas Sovereign, who suffered serious 
shrapnel wounds in the explosion.
  Chandler, a 21-year-old soldier from Aurora, Colorado, entered the 
Marine Corp. in June 1998, immediately after graduating from Gateway 
High School.
  Mr. Speaker, I am honored to represent Cpl. Chandler, his parents 
Kenneth and Rumi, and sister Stephanie in the U.S. House of 
Representatives. Our nation is forever indebted to Cpl. Chandler for 
his self-sacrifice and admirable actions taken on Sunday, December 16, 
2001--for they will be etched in the memory of America's new war 
against terrorism and never forgotten.

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