[Congressional Record Volume 149, Number 43 (Tuesday, March 18, 2003)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E494-E495]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
IN MEMORY OF THOSE KILLED AND INJURED AT FORT DRUM BLACK HAWK CRASH
______
HON. JOHN M. McHUGH
of new york
in the house of representatives
Tuesday, March 18, 2003
Mr. McHUGH. Mr. Speaker, I rise today, as I have countless times
before on the floor of this House, to talk about something very near
and dear to my heart--Fort Drum and the brave men and women of the
Army's 10th Mountain Division (Light Infantry), the most frequently
deployed division in the U.S. Army today.
When I raise this topic, I take a particular amount of pride in
reminding my colleagues that Fort Drum, which is the most modern
military facility anywhere in the world, is situated within my upstate
New York Congressional District. Since the early 1990s, soldiers from
the 10th Mountain Division (LI) have participated in significant
operations both at home and abroad, including Hurricane Andrew, the
Northeast's Ice Storm of 1998, Somalia, Haiti, Bosnia, Kosovo,
Afghanistan and beyond.
I have seen the men and women of the 10th Mountain Division (LI) in
action. I have met many of the soldiers one-on-one and have been
fortunate to speak with them during visits here at home and while the
Division has been deployed around the globe. I am always impressed by
their professionalism and the way they do their job without hesitation.
The dedication, commitment, and heroism these men and women have is,
perhaps, what is most remarkable about Fort Drum.
Last week, people from across the country became familiar with Fort
Drum as well. But sadly, our nation learned the importance of this Army
post through news reports of a tragic helicopter crash that occurred
during a training mission. We were all devastated on last Tuesday
afternoon when we learned that a Black Hawk went down killing 11
soldiers and injuring two.
Mr. Speaker, the soldiers who lost their lives on March 11, 2003 in
the service of our nation are:
Cpt. Christopher E. Britton, 27, from Ohio, assigned to Headquarters
and Headquarters
[[Page E495]]
Company, 1st Battalion, 10th Aviation Regiment.
Chief Warrant Officer 3 Kenneth L. Miller, 35, from California
assigned to Bravo Company, 2nd Battalion, 10th Aviation Regiment.
Staff Sgt. Brian Pavlich, 25, from Port Jervis, NY assigned to
Charlie Company, 4th Battalion, 31st Infantry Regiment.
Sgt. John L. Eichenlaub, Jr., 24, from South Williamsport, PA
assigned to Charlie Company, 4th Battalion, 31st Infantry Regiment.
Sgt. Joshua M. Harapko, 23, from Peoria, Axiz., assigned to Charlie
Company, 4th Battalion, 31th Infantry Regiment.
Spc. Lucas V. Tripp, 23, from Aurora, Colo., assigned to Bravo
Company, 2nd Battalion, 10th Aviation Regiment.
Spc. Barry M. Stephens, 20, from Pinson, Alabama, assigned to Bravo
Company, 2nd Battalion, 10th Aviation Regiment.
Pfc. Shawn A. Mayerscik, 22, from Oil City, PA, assigned to Charlie
Company, 4th Battalion, 31st Infantry Regiment.
Pfc. Tommy C. Young, 20, from Knoxville, Tenn. assigned to Charlie
Company, 4th Battalion, 31st Infantry Regiment.
Pfc. Stryder O. Stoutenburg, 18, from Missoula, Mont. assigned to
Charlie Company, 4th Battalion, 31th Infantry Regiment.
Pfc. Andrew D. Stevens, 20, from Rockingham, NH. assigned to Charlie
Company, 4th Battalion, 31st Infantry Regiment.
Mr. Speaker, those injured in the crash were:
Spc. Dmitri Petrov and Spc. Edwin A. Mejia, both from Charlie
Company, 4th Battalion, 31st Infantry Regiment.
Mr. Speaker, we will continue to pray for these soldiers and their
families during this difficult time.
Our nation, the United States Army, and the people of Northern New
York stand united with the families of the fallen and injured soldiers.
While I know there are no words or deeds that can ever ease the pain
and heavy burden the loved ones of these soldiers are experiencing, I
want to pay tribute to those who have given their lives to the fullest
measure as well as those soldiers injured in the line of duty.
The North Country community has long viewed the soldiers stationed at
Fort Drum as much more than just the defenders of our nation. They are
our friends and neighbors. The outpouring of care and concern from area
residents has been truly extraordinary. It is because we feel this
loss, too. I want the injured soldiers and surviving families to know
we share their grief and sorrow.
The crash at Fort Drum was not the first introduction Americans have
had with the Black Hawk helicopter. Mark Bowden's best-selling book and
movie titled ``Black Hawk Down: A Story of Modern War'' was an account
of the American military campaign on the streets of Mogadishu, Somalia
when warlords there were wreaking havoc on their own people in 1993. As
I have mentioned before, the 10th Mountain Division is the Army's most
frequently deployed force, so it's not surprising that elements of the
10th played a significant role in that mission and were featured in the
book's after-action report of the difficulties they faced. The title,
``Black Hawk Down'' comes from the ominous words that echoed from the
radio transmissions almost as soon as the operation began.
Whether we are talking about the Black Hawk that went down in Somalia
nearly a decade ago, or the crash near Wheeler-Sack Airfield at Fort
Drum, we know that things do not always go as planned in war or in
warfighting training exercises. And now, as our Armed Forces face
another military offensive overseas, the tragic accident at Fort Drum
serves as a solemn reminder of the sacrifices our service men and women
make on a daily basis. Whether it be in training or in battle, we do
not always have the privilege of seeing their acts of heroism carried
on CNN or in a motion picture.
Mr. Speaker, I ask my colleagues and all Americans to join me in
paying tribute to these men. Let us also acknowledge the rest of the
men and women in uniform and express our gratitude for their service to
our nation. As they go forward with their assignments, both at home and
abroad, they need our support and our prayers.
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