[Congressional Record Volume 150, Number 45 (Friday, April 2, 2004)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E517-E518]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




CONGRATULATING PETTY OFFICER THIRD CLASS DAVID L. BROWN, UNITED STATES 
        NAVY, ON THE OCCASION OF HIS RECEIPT OF THE PURPLE HEART

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                             HON. JO BONNER

                               of alabama

                    in the house of representatives

                         Friday, April 2, 2004

  Mr. BONNER. Mr. Speaker, it is with great pride and pleasure that I 
rise to pay tribute to Petty Officer Third Class David L. Brown, former 
member of the United States Navy, on the occasion of his receipt of the 
Purple Heart.
  This recognition--long overdue--was made last week as the result of 
injuries Petty Officer Brown received during the Vietnam Conflict in 
1968.
  On January 3, 1968, Petty Officer Brown, who served as an equipment 
operator in country for a total of 13 months, and his unit were 
involved in action with enemy combatants near Hue City during the Tet 
Offensive. During the engagement, a lieutenant positioned nearby was 
wounded by enemy fire. Petty Officer Brown rushed to his aid and while 
trying to drag this officer out of the line of fire to safety, he was 
hit in his hands by an enemy mortar round. He immediately received aid 
from a corpsman, but he and his unit continued to be pinned down by 
enemy fire for eight days. Petty Officer Brown was eventually evacuated 
from Hue City and continued his naval service, serving for a period of 
ten months aboard the USS Ranger.
  Following his return to the United States, he served as a ship 
superintendent at Northrop Grumman Ship Systems' Ingalls Operation in 
Pascagoula, Mississippi, until his retirement. However, he never 
received the recognition he was due as a result of heroic services 
rendered during the Tet Offensive.
  In an effort to determine his eligibility for the Purple Heart and 
other medals and decorations associated with the injuries he sustained 
in Hue City, Petty Officer Brown contacted my predecessor, former 
Congressman Sonny Callahan, and requested his assistance in contacting 
the appropriate officials on his behalf.
  Over the next two years, Mrs. Kay Williams, a member of Congressman 
Callahan's district staff and now a member of my district staff, worked 
diligently with officials with the National Personnel Records Center, 
the Department of the Navy, and the National Archives and Records 
Administration on this issue.
  Without question, Mrs. Williams tirelessly pursued every possible 
avenue in an attempt to secure this recognition for Petty Officer 
Brown, and in recent weeks was able to contact Mr. Glenn Morichika. Mr. 
Morichika, a resident of Honolulu, Hawaii, is the only surviving 
witness to the events of January 3, 1968. Thankfully, Mr. Morichika was 
able to provide an eyewitness testimony as to Petty Officer Brown's 
actions.
  As a result of this testimony, and the tremendous efforts of Mrs. 
Williams, Petty Officer Brown was finally awarded the Purple Heart, the 
Combat Action Ribbon, and the Meritorious Unit Commendation. This 
recognition, while long overdue, is certainly well-deserved and is a 
testament to the dedication to duty and concern for his fellow troops 
that marked Petty Officer Brown's exemplary service in the United 
States Navy.

[[Page E518]]

  Mr. Speaker, sadly far too many veterans returned home from Vietnam 
without the recognition they were due. Unfortunately, in Petty Officer 
Brown's case, he not only demonstrated his willingness to fight for his 
country, but he returned home only to fight the bureaucracy of his 
country to get that to which he was always entitled. This is a sad but 
often-repeated story that thousands of veterans know all-too-well.
  Fortunately, in this particular instance, there was a happy ending to 
this story. Therefore, today, I ask my colleagues on both sides of the 
aisle to join with me in recognizing David L. Brown for this 
accomplishment and for his many years of devoted service to his 
country. I know I join with his many family and friends in 
congratulating him on this achievement and in extending our heartfelt 
thanks for his outstanding service to the United States of America.

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