[Congressional Record Volume 148, Number 34 (Thursday, March 21, 2002)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E405]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                           AIRMAN CUNNINGHAM

                                 ______
                                 

                             HON. TOM UDALL

                             of new mexico

                    in the house of representatives

                       Wednesday, March 20, 2002

  Mr. UDALL of New Mexico. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to pay tribute to 
pararescueman Jason Cunningham--one of America and New Mexico's true 
heroes.
  Jason was one of our six brave soldiers killed during a shoot-out in 
the mountainous Gardez area of Afghanistan on Monday, March 4th. Jason 
participated in the insertion of Special Forces in the area when the 
helicopter he was a passenger in was brought down by machine-gun fire 
and a rocket propelled grenade. Jason and his six crewmembers were 
trying to rescue a Navy SEAL who had fallen out of the helicopter.
  Jason grew up in New Mexico, spending most of his childhood in the 
southern part of the state, but he attended high school in Farmington 
and his parents currently reside in my district in Gallup, New Mexico.
  Following graduation, Jason joined the Navy, finished his four years, 
and re-entered the armed forces, this time joining the Air Force and 
attending Pararescue School, from which he graduated in June of 2001.
  It was in February of this year that Jason was sent to Afghanistan to 
join the front lines in the war against terror and left behind his 
loved ones for the call of duty.
  Last week, Jason received a deserved heroes burial in Arlington 
National Cemetery where he took his place among the men and women who 
have, like Jason, courageously answered their country's call.
  Douglas MacArthur once said, ``the soldier above all people, prays 
for peace for he or she must suffer and bear the deepest wounds and 
scars of war.'' However, I am sure that Jason's family, and the 
families of the other brave men and women who have died in service to 
their country also deeply feel the scars of war. Let us keep all the 
families with sons and daughters on the front lines in the war against 
terror in our thoughts and prayers.

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