[Congressional Record Volume 152, Number 28 (Tuesday, March 7, 2006)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E294-E295]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




      HONORING SERGEANT DENNIS KRAMER AND SPECIALIST JOSEPH DELAPP

                                 ______
                                 

                         HON. MARSHA BLACKBURN

                              of tennessee

                    in the house of representatives

                         Tuesday, March 7, 2006

  Mrs. BLACKBURN. Mr. Speaker, America has always relied on the men and 
women of our Armed Services to keep us free. Quite simply, without them 
the greatest bastion of freedom on this planet would not exist. We can 
never thank them enough.
  Today I ask my colleagues to honor two men who have served America 
with distinction.
  Sergeant Dennis Kramer received the distinguished honor of 
Noncommissioned Officer of the Year for 2004.
  Specialist Joseph Delapp was awarded the esteemed Soldier of the Year 
for 2004.
  Sergeant Dennis Kramer of Baudette, Minnesota enlisted in May 2001 
and is serving in the 1/187th Infantry Regiment at Fort Campbell as a 
reconnaissance squad leader. During Operation Enduring Freedom, he 
served as a rifleman in A Company of the 1/187 and upon redeployment he 
volunteered for the scout platoon where he served as a sniper and 
sniper section squad leader during Operation Iraqi Freedom.
  Specialist Joseph Delapp of Mayfield, Kentucky was awarded Battalion 
Soldier of the month in August 2004 and Brigade Soldier of the Year 
2004. Formerly in D Company 2/327 Infantry, Delapp is now the 
Commanding General's Driver, and a Noncommissioned Officer. Delapp 
entered the Army on January 31, 2002 and was deployed in March 2003 in 
support of Operation Iraqi Freedom where he served as a driver and a 
gunner.
  Mr. Speaker, now we owe a debt of gratitude to these men and to their 
families. I ask my colleagues to join me in congratulating these 
outstanding members of our military and thank them for their dedication 
to defending our country. God Bless the U.S. Armed Forces.

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