[Congressional Record Volume 149, Number 73 (Thursday, May 15, 2003)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E953-E954]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                  HONORING LTCOL GREG STURDEVANT, USMC

                                 ______
                                 

                            HON. ERIC CANTOR

                              of virginia

                    in the house of representatives

                        Wednesday, May 14, 2003

  Mr. CANTOR. I rise today to honor Lt. Colonel Greg Sturdevant, USMC 
and his career as a Marine Corp helicopter aviator. He has served 
valiantly during his career and was awarded the Bronze Star for heroism 
in the Battle of Tora Bora in Afghanistan last fall.
  His bravery was tested once again in the deserts of Iraq where he was 
liberating the people of Iraq in Operation Iraqi Freedom. Acting on a 
tip from a local Iraqi citizen, the U.S. military hastily put together 
a rescue attempt of a captured U.S. soldier, PFC Jessica Lynch, who was 
known to be held in an Iraqi hospital. During the planning of this 
midnight mission, for which the Marines were tasked to fly the rescue 
helicopter, the most experienced pilots were selected to lead each of 
the helicopters. Sturdevant's many years of service gave him the 
experience and technical proficiency to command one of these 
helicopters.
  On April 2, 2003, LtCol Sturdevant and his fellow Marines flew the 
U.S. Army's Rangers

[[Page E954]]

and the U.S. Navy's Seals to the Saddam Hospital in Al Nasiriyah where 
the soldier was thought to be held. After the Rangers and Seals secured 
the area, they emerged from the hospital with 19 year-old PFC Lynch, 
who had been taken prisoner with other members of her unit, the 507th 
Maintenance Company on March 23, 2003. LtCol Sturdevant's flight of 
Marines, Army Rangers, Navy Seals, and one former Prisoner of War 
returned to a coalition-held airfield where PFC Lynch was finally free 
of her captors.
  I join the Janis Family, Bill, Rose Ann, Robert, and Michael, in 
honoring and recognizing LtCol Sturdevant and say thank you for all of 
his efforts in the defense of America's freedom.

                          ____________________