[Congressional Record Volume 149, Number 45 (Thursday, March 20, 2003)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E528]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                          HONORING FRANK BOYER

                                 ______
                                 

                           HON. SCOTT McINNIS

                              of colorado

                    in the house of representatives

                       Wednesday, March 19, 2003

  Mr. McINNIS. Mr. Speaker, I would like to take this opportunity to 
recognize Colonel Frank Boyer of Colorado Springs, Colorado for his 
extraordinary service to this country. After joining the United States 
Air Force, Col. Boyer sacrificed his career as a jet fighter pilot to 
pursue nine years of medical training, eventually becoming an Air Force 
surgeon. That career change was especially important in the winter of 
2001, when Col. Boyer was instrumental in saving the lives of seventeen 
young soldiers injured during their service in Afghanistan. Today I am 
privileged to honor Col. Boyer for his service before this body of 
Congress and this nation.
  In October 2001, Col. Boyer and his team of seventy doctors, nurses 
and medical staff from the Air Force Academy set up a combat hospital 
in Oman to support American troops fighting for Operation Enduring 
Freedom. Just forty-five days later, a B-52 dropped an errant bomb on a 
group of American Special Operations fighters in Afghanistan, killing 
three and wounding twenty, many severely.
  On that day, seventeen of the injured soldiers were rushed to Col. 
Boyer's military hospital. Every one of them survived. Col. Boyer and 
his team worked for thirty-six continuous hours, performing twenty-
three surgeries, including four life-saving procedures. For this 
exceptional effort under extreme pressure, Col. Boyer received the 
Bronze Star.
  Mr. Speaker, it is a great privilege to recognize Col. Frank Boyer 
for his outstanding service to the United States of America. I want to 
thank him on behalf of this nation and this Congress for his calm 
leadership through a chaotic and frightening incident. Seventeen young 
soldiers owe their lives to Col. Boyer and his medical team. All of our 
nation is in Col. Boyer's debt.

                          ____________________