[Congressional Record Volume 150, Number 40 (Friday, March 26, 2004)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E459]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                  RECOGNIZING SERGEANT DONALD WALTERS

                                 ______
                                 

                          HON. DARLENE HOOLEY

                               of oregon

                    in the house of representatives

                        Thursday, March 25, 2004

  Ms. HOOLEY of Oregon. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize an 
American hero.
  One year ago today, Sergeant Donald Walters bravely offered the 
ultimate sacrifice in hand-to-hand combat during the now famous ambush 
of the 507th Army Ordnance Maintenance Company, the same attack in 
which Pvt. Jessica Lynch was captured.
  Sgt. Walters served our nation courageously and honorably long before 
September 11. He served during the first Gulf War, and returned to 
raise a family. So if, after the Gulf War, Sgt. Walters decided to 
never again leave his home and family to defend freedom in a faraway 
place, he could rest easy because he had already given more than most.
  However, after September 11, Sgt. Walters volunteered to rejoin the 
U.S. Army in order to serve America yet again. He was selfless. He was 
courageous. He knew what every soldier knows: that great sacrifices 
would be required in order to serve our nation in its time of need, and 
he made those sacrifices. I am deeply saddened that, one year ago 
today, he made the ultimate sacrifice.
  Yet his sacrifice, his courage, and his heroism has not and will not 
be forgotten. Sgt. Donald Walters fought bravely in the ambush on the 
507th, and his courage in the face of fire both inflicted damage on the 
enemy and helped others in his unit to escape the ambush. His gallantry 
in action has earned him a Silver Star from the Army, a reward much 
deserved.
  The exact chain of events on that fateful day may never be fully 
revealed. But the family of Sgt. Donald Walters should be assured that 
the Army, this Congress, and this Nation consider him a hero, and he 
will never be forgotten.

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