[Congressional Record Volume 150, Number 16 (Tuesday, February 10, 2004)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E160]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




  HONORING THE MEN AND WOMEN OF THE 459TH AEROMEDICAL STAGING SQUADRON

                                 ______
                                 

                         HON. C. W. BILL YOUNG

                               of florida

                    in the house of representatives

                       Tuesday, February 10, 2004

  Mr. YOUNG of Florida. Mr. Speaker, since September 11, 2001, valiant 
young Americans have served our country on the front lines of the War 
on Terrorism, and some have made the ultimate sacrifice. We will always 
remember and recognize their courage and selflessness in defense of our 
Nation.
  Over the past two and a half years, thousands of brave soldiers, 
sailors, airmen and Marines have returned home wounded, sometimes 
seriously, from Operations Enduring Freedom and Iraqi Freedom. These 
heroes have arrived at Andrews Air Force base aboard the U.S. Air 
Force's Worldwide Aeromedical Evacuation flights.
  Upon arrival, these service members are met by a group of heroes in 
their own right, the reserve airmen and women of the 459th Aeromedical 
Staging Squadron. Since their mobilization on April 3, 2003 these men 
and women have worked tirelessly to ensure that our injured and wounded 
service members are moved safely from the Aeromedical Evacuation System 
to stateside facilities where they can receive critical lifesaving 
care.
  The 100-bed Contingency Aeromedical Staging Facility (CASF) was 
established in March to supplement the existing Andrews Air Force Base 
ASF in anticipation of Operation Iraqi Freedom. Working out of 
makeshift facilities, including a fitness building and tennis center, 
the men and women of the Andrews CASF maintain the highest standard of 
care for wounded service members transiting the U.S. Air Force's 
Evacuation system. Since April 2003 the Andrews CASF staff has moved 
11,307 injured military personnel through Andrews on their way to 
military medical centers nationwide.
  In our many visits to the Walter Reed Army Medical Center here in 
Washington, DC, and the National Naval Medical Center in Bethesda, 
Maryland, my wife Beverly and I have met countless young soldiers, 
sailors and Marines who survived life-threatening injuries because of 
the quick and effective work of those responsible for the Air Force's 
Aeromedical Evacuation Flights and Staging Facilities. Each and every 
day, the nurses, physicians, and medical technicians of the Andrews 
CASF stand ready to receive and care for some of our most critically 
wounded heroes from the War on Terrorism. All Americans are proud of 
their service and grateful for their efforts, none more so than those 
whose lives they held in their hands. The men and women of the 
Contingency Aeromedical Staging Facility have fulfilled their 
responsibility with distinction and with grace under pressure, and have 
demonstrated yet again the skill and dedication of America's citizen 
soldiers.

  Mr. Speaker, I commend this often overlooked group of American heroes 
and I ask that my colleagues in the Congress join with me today in 
honoring their patriotism and their contribution to the cause of 
freedom around the globe.
  So that they may be honored individually, I am submitting the names 
of the 86 personnel of the Andrews CASF, including 30 members of the 
89th Medical Group, for the Record:

       Adams, Shaun--MD; Anderson, James--VA; Anderson, Larry Jr--
     MD; Arrington, Shelia--VA; Allis, Patrick--NC; Ascue, 
     Joseph--VA; Ayala-Tipmongkol, Patricia--VA; Barlow, Raymond--
     PA; Becton, Avery--VA; Beebe, Deborah--TX; Bowles, 
     Charmayne--MD; Brandon, Lewis--MD;
       Brooks, Sylvia--MD; Bullock, Geraldine--NC; Bulow, 
     Tequela--MD; Campbell, Shanita--VA; Cesaro, Roger--MD; 
     Delaney, Allen--SC; Devilla, Eustaquio--VA; Drummond, 
     Jimmie--MD; Emeagwali, Edith--MD; Fairley, Xamodria--MD; 
     Fields, Darrell--MO; Finn, Sophia--MD;
        Fitzpatrick, Alice--VA; Fletcher, James--MA; Fullenwilder, 
     Edson--MD; Gadsden, Tamar--MD; Gavin, Shaun--MD; Gill,--
     Mary--MD; Goston, Santoskaun--VA; Green (Walker), Candice--
     PA; Guerra, Adrian--IL; Hagans, Rudy--MD; Harvey, Nakia--MD; 
     Hayden, Donald--KY;
        Heyward, Cheryl--DC; Hodge, Nketia--VA; Howard, Charles--
     MD; James, Joseph--MD; James, Zenobia--MD; Johnson, Deborah--
     NC; Johnson, Doreen--MD; Johnson, Dwinese--NC; Jones, 
     Bonnie--MD; Jones-Everett, Jennifer--MD; Kee, Frances--MD; 
     Kellner, Karen--MD;
       King, Caleb--MD; Knight, Nina--PA; Leggett, Taeka--VA; 
     Lewis, Christopher--MD; Lipscomb, Marina--MD; Longfellow, 
     Dawn--DE; Lyde, Georgia--MD; Martin, Roberta--MD; Masonis, 
     Michael--MD; McCall, Colon--MD; Meredith, Janelle--MD; 
     Mewborn, Margaret--VA;
       Millner, Johnnie--VA; Mills, Edwards, Shera--NC; Moore, 
     Ricardo--VA; Moore, Vanessa--NC; Morgan, Jennifer--VA; 
     Morton, Sandi--VA; Myles, Larry--VA; Pauldine, Ronald--MD; 
     Persons, Cynthia--VA; Phifer, Dianett--VA; Plog, Hunter--MD; 
     Quinerly, Julius--VA;
       Retener, Jose--MD; Reynolds, Gary--MD; Richardson, 
     Leonard--MD; Roberts, Tracy--SC; Rudd, Brant--MD; Sawka, 
     Ann--PA; Sherry-Notar, Precious--VA; Silver, James--MD; 
     Simon, Norman--VA; Smith, William--VA;
       Stiles, Erlinda--MD; Sylvestro, Patricia--MD; Taylor, 
     Meghan--VA; Thomas, Edward--VA; Troutman, Wanda--NC; 
     Tutwiler, Terry--VA; Vogan, Kieth--WV; Whitney, Angel--DE; 
     Williams, Cornelius--VA; and Woodyard, April--NC.

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