[Congressional Record Volume 149, Number 27 (Thursday, February 13, 2003)]
[House]
[Page H681]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




              HONORING FORT CAMPBELL SOLDIERS AND FAMILIES

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Under a previous order of the House, the 
gentlewoman from Tennessee (Mrs. Blackburn) is recognized for 5 
minutes.
  Mrs. BLACKBURN. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor our Fort Campbell 
family as they prepare to send America's best overseas.
  Fort Campbell has already suffered the loss of four very brave men 
who fought for our freedom. They were Chief Warrant Officer 3 Mark 
Osteen, Chief Warrant Officer 2 Thomas Gibbons, Staff Sergeant Daniel 
Kisling, and Sergeant Gregory Frampton. They were killed during a 
training mission.
  It is my privilege to represent much of Fort Campbell and many of the 
brave men and women who call it home. As we speak, the 101st Airborne 
Division, America's famed Screaming Eagles, are gearing up for 
deployment. They will be taking our thoughts and prayers with them as 
they serve the forces that guard our country and protect our way of 
life. They have been ever vigilant and ever ready to defend this great 
Nation, our values, and our allies since World War II. We have asked 
them to make certain sacrifices to advance freedom in the past, and 
once again they stand ready and willing to risk themselves in our 
defense.
  I was very touched today as I read some of their thoughts as they 
planned for departure. ``This is the culmination of what we do,'' 
Sergeant Greg Weaver stated. ``This is our job.''
  And from Private Jerokiah Darr, ``I don't know exactly what we're up 
against. All I know is we're the best-trained division in the Nation.''
  And Specialist Eric Reason said, ``We've got the best Army in the 
world, and I'm confident in it.''
  Mr. Speaker, Fort Campbell comprises much of my district. It is 
located in Montgomery County, Tennessee. It is an honor and a privilege 
to represent those men and women, and it is an honor for me to take 
time this evening to pause in our deliberations and to honor those men 
and women and the families of Fort Campbell.

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