[Congressional Record Volume 149, Number 136 (Tuesday, September 30, 2003)]
[Senate]
[Page S12188]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




            TRIBUTE TO COMMANDER ELIZABETH McDONALD MOORING

 Mr. LAUTENBERG. Mr. President, I rise today to recognize a 
great American and a true military heroine who has honorably served our 
country for over 22 years in the U.S. Navy Nurse Corps: Commander 
Elizabeth McDonald Mooring. She was born in Rahway, NJ, and grew up in 
Bridgewater, NJ. CDR Mooring began her military career as a staff nurse 
at National Naval Medical Center, Bethesda, MD. She quickly rose 
through the ranks and served at naval bases throughout the world, 
including Naval Hospital Newport, RI; Naval Hospital Okinawa, Japan; 
Branch Medical Clinic, Sewells Point, Norfolk, VA; and varied 
assignments at the Naval Medical Center Portsmouth, VA. Following in 
her father's footsteps, Seaman Eugene Bernard McDonald, CDR Mooring and 
her sister, Patricia, joined the Navy Nurse Corps, while her brother 
Sean joined the Seabees in the Naval Reserve.
  CDR Mooring adeptly served as the medical officer recruiter at the 
Commander Naval Reserve Force, Philadelphia, PA. For 2 years she 
consistently achieved her medical recruiting goal for the States of New 
Jersey and Pennsylvania. For 2 years CDR Mooring served in the Naval 
Reserve and drilled at Naval Air Station, Willow Grove, NJ. She was one 
of the first women to serve aboard the USS John F. Kennedy, CV-67, and 
provided medical support during the rededication of the Statue of 
Liberty. Because of her clinical excellence and professionalism she was 
assigned to the presidential support team for President Ronald Reagan.
  It is only fitting that for her final assignment, she came home to 
New Jersey. CDR Mooring served as the Officer in Charge of the Branch 
Medical Clinic at Naval Air Engineering Station Lakehurst, NJ, and 
Assistant Officer in Charge at the Branch Medical Clinic, Naval Weapons 
Station Earle, Colts Neck, NJ. She was integral to the critical medical 
support mission of the Naval Weapons Station during Operation Enduring 
Freedom and Operation Iraqi Freedom. During Operation Iraqi Freedom, 83 
percent of all weapons used, were loaded from the Naval Weapons Station 
Earle, NJ.
  In each assignment, CDR Mooring excelled and met every challenge, and 
was rewarded with greater responsibilities and opportunities. She is an 
experienced leader, administrator, clinician, educator, and mentor. 
Throughout her career she has been instrumental in providing navy 
medicine with the fine cadre of navy nurses, physicians, Medical 
Service Corps officers and hospital corpsmen serving today.
  Above all, she is a stellar officer and leader who always put the 
welfare of her staff and patients first. CDR Mooring always went the 
extra mile to serve her country and her fellow man. Her performance 
reflects greatly on herself, the U.S. Navy, the Department of Defense, 
and the United States of America. I extend my deepest appreciation to 
Commander Elizabeth McDonald Mooring, on behalf of the United States, 
for her over 22 years of dedicated military service. Congratulations 
CDR Mooring and let me be one of the first to welcome you home to the 
State of New Jersey.

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