[Congressional Record Volume 151, Number 106 (Friday, July 29, 2005)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1658]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                 IN HONOR OF CAPTAIN SANDRA L. DEGROOT

                                 ______
                                 

                             HON. JIM COSTA

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                        Thursday, July 28, 2005

  Mr. COSTA. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor and wish well in 
retirement Captain Sandra L. DeGroot of Lemoore, California. Captain 
DeGroot has diligently served her country for the past thirty years.
  In September 1975 Sandra joined the United States Navy as a Nurse 
Corps Candidate and was commissioned an Ensign. It was there that 
Captain DeGroot committed herself to ensuring proper care and recovery 
for the women and men who place themselves in harm's way in the effort 
to protect our freedom.
  She graduated from Keuka College with a Bachelor of Science Degree in 
Nursing in 1976 and reported for Officer Indoctrination School in 
Newport, Rhode Island. Upon completion of her Officer training, Sandra 
began her career at the Naval Hospital in Jacksonville, Florida in the 
Intensive Care unit.
  Captain DeGroot's profession brought her to a variety of places. She 
was assigned to Naval Hospital Pensacola, Florida as the charge nurse 
of the medicine ward. Shortly thereafter Sandra became head nurse of 
the Pediatric Clinic at Naval Hospital, Guam and after a brief return 
to Florida, she joined the ranks in California at Naval Hospital San 
Diego. At San Diego Captain DeGroot filled many roles; she served as 
the staff nurse on Labor and Delivery, Division Officer OB/GYN clinics 
and Perinatal Clinical Nurse Specialist. Ever the avid learner, Sandra 
transferred to Utah where she completed her Master of Science Degree in 
Nursing, with a major in Nurse-Midwifery. Her dedication to work and 
school brought great rewards and in 1996 Captain DeGroot reported to 
Naval Hospital Jacksonville where she was the Navy's first Director of 
Women's Health Services. A few years later Sandra was assigned to U.S. 
Naval Hospital Keflavik, Iceland before returning to California at 
Naval Hospital Lemoore as the Commanding Officer.
  On top of her successful career Captain DeGroot has also made time 
for membership in various organizations. The American College of Nurse 
Midwives, the American Academy of Nurse Practitioners, the American 
Holistic Nurses Association and the Association of Women's Health, 
Obstetric and Neonatal Nurses are just some of the organizations with 
which she is involved. Her hard work has not gone unnoticed because 
Captain DeGroot has received the Meritorious Service Medal with Gold 
Star, Navy Commendation Medal with Gold Star, Navy Achievement Medal, 
National Defense Service Medal with Bronze Star and the Overseas 
Service Ribbon.
  For us, her retirement is bittersweet--although it is well deserved 
Captain DeGroot's efforts will be greatly missed. I congratulate 
Captain Sandra L. DeGroot, and wish her and her family all the best.

                          ____________________