[Congressional Record Volume 149, Number 43 (Tuesday, March 18, 2003)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E508]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




         PAYING TRIBUTE TO U.S. ARMY SPECIALIST LUCAS V. TRIPP

                                 ______
                                 

                           HON. SCOTT McINNIS

                              of colorado

                    in the house of representatives

                        Tuesday, March 18, 2003

  Mr. McINNIS. Mr. Speaker, it is with a heavy heart that I stand 
before you today to honor a young man tragically taken from this earth 
while in the service of his country. U.S. Army Specialist Lucas V. 
Tripp of Aurora, Colorado was one of ten soldiers killed in the 
unfortunate Black Hawk helicopter accident near Fort Drum, New York 
last Tuesday. Those who seek the true meaning of duty, honor, and 
sacrifice will find it in dedicated servants like Luke Tripp and his 
fellow soldiers. I am truly humbled to honor them before this body of 
Congress and this nation.
  Luke joined the Army four years ago and, like so many young men and 
women before him, he saw it as an opportunity to serve our great 
nation. After enlisting, Luke graduated from boot camp at the top of 
his class and quickly rose through the ranks, eventually becoming a 
Black Hawk crew chief and certified flight instructor. Luke could 
rappel out of a hovering helicopter into a hostile area and repair 
damaged aircraft, an action that requires stunning bravery. The 
accident last week occurred as the 13 crew members returned from a 
training exercise in upstate New York, where they had been preparing 
for a possible deployment in the case of war. Luke's best friend was 
the first to reach the crash site and reported that he found Luke 
heroically shielding one of the two survivors.
  Mr. Speaker, I cannot fully express my deep sense of gratitude for 
the sacrifice of these young soldiers and their families. Throughout 
our history, men and women in uniform have fought our battles with 
distinction and courage. At the dawn of this new century, the United 
States military has once again been called to defend our freedom and 
ideals against a new and emerging threat. Soldiers like Luke and his 
crew embody America's determination to lead the world in confronting 
that threat and I know that their awesome sacrifice will not be in 
vain. They have done all Americans proud and I know they have the 
respect and admiration of all of my colleagues here today.

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