[Congressional Record Volume 148, Number 5 (Tuesday, January 29, 2002)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E38-E39]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




TRIBUTE TO THE DISASTER MORTUARY OPERATIONAL RESPONSE TEAM, REGION VI, 
                              OF LOUISIANA

                                 ______
                                 

                         HON. RICHARD H. BAKER

                              of louisiana

                    in the house of representatives

                       Tuesday, January 29, 2002

  Mr. BAKER. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to pay tribute to the nine 
Louisiana residents who put fear aside and risked their lives to 
recover those lost on September 11, 2001, during the tragic attack on 
the World Trade Center.
  The Disaster Mortuary Operational Response Team (DMORT), administered 
through USPHS and funded through FEMA, provides assistance upon request 
of local authorities in the event of a mass fatality incident. Regional 
VI consists of participants hailing from Louisiana, Texas, Arkansas, 
Oklahoma, and New Mexico. This team was deployed to New York City 
several days after the terrorist attacks to assist the New York Medical 
Examiner. Subsequent to this assignment, Region VI was then transferred 
to the American Aircraft crash in Queens, New York.
  Mr. Speaker, Deputy Commander Charles D. Smith, Jr., led Louisiana 
residents Anthony Buras, Jordan Charlet, Arbie Goings, Shelly

[[Page E39]]

Roy, James Brett Smith, Mark Stewart, Dee Wilde and Mike Armanini, of 
the Disaster Medical Assistance Team, in their mission to recover those 
lost in the World Trade Center. Smith, who has been in New York for a 
total of two months, noted that ``every member distinguished themselves 
on this difficult deployment and served the country and the National 
Disaster Medical System with honor . . . I am proud to report that the 
state was represented in a splendid manner.''
  At a time when tragedy was at its greatest, Region VI responded 
swiftly with deep compassion for those they had never met. Their effort 
represents not only the spirit of Louisiana, but the spirit of our 
nation as well.

                          ____________________