[Congressional Record Volume 152, Number 135 (Friday, December 8, 2006)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E2209]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                   TRIBUTE TO CHRISTOPHER A. ANDERSON

                                 ______
                                 

                        HON. MARILYN N. MUSGRAVE

                              of colorado

                    in the house of representatives

                        Friday, December 8, 2006

  Mrs. MUSGRAVE. Mr. Speaker, I rise with a very heavy heart and I wish 
to ask the Members in this Chamber to join me before we end the 109th 
session of Congress tonight in honoring a fallen sailor from Longmont, 
Colorado.
  This week, Hospitalman Christopher A. Anderson was killed in action 
while serving our Nation in Iraq. He was a patriot that believed 
strongly in the freedoms we enjoy here in America and he joined the 
Navy to help defend the rights of citizens in Iraq.
  I have contacted his family, and they are heartbroken about their 
loss, undoubtedly. They are to be admired for their courage and 
continued dedication to America's military forces who are fighting 
terrorists in the Middle East. As a mother of an enlisted sailor, my 
heart goes out to Christopher's family.
  I would like to take a solemn moment to reflect on the life of 
Christopher and share the thoughts of his parents Rick and Debra 
Anderson. They released the following statement:

       Christopher was a son of which any parent would be proud. 
     He was a natural leader in the truest sense: warm, giving, 
     thoughtful and caring. He went well out of his way to assist 
     family, friends and neighbors with everything from the sweat 
     of his brow to sound advice that many commented held wisdom 
     beyond his years. He was consistently elevated to leadership 
     positions by his actions.
       This same thought process was at work when he chose to join 
     the U.S. Navy. Chris comes from generations of Navy men and 
     women. I myself am retired Navy. The Navy is, in general, an 
     exciting career, however Christopher was not content to 
     settle for anything less than being at the tip of the spear. 
     He chose the career path of Hospital Corpsman (the Navy 
     equivalent to a Medic in the other services). He requested 
     the additional training of a Combat Medic, and to be assigned 
     to the front lines with the United States Marine Corps. The 
     Marine Corps does not have their own medical personnel, and 
     Navy Sailors fill that role on a voluntary basis.
       He was an ``encourager'', and ``uplifter'' with a truly 
     unique ability to empower others to rise to success they 
     themselves did not think possible. He attracted many, many 
     close friends into his circle. These are fine young men 
     and women, who I was proud to be introduced to and invite 
     into my home.
       In August of 2005, Christopher joined the Navy. While in 
     Longmont awaiting his formal Navy school start date, he 
     aggressively pursued high visibility leadership positions 
     within his group of peers attached to the Longmont Navy 
     Recruiting Office. Chris was already a good athlete, but 
     chose to compete with the Navy SEAL candidates for even 
     greater athletic excellence. He additionally excelled in his 
     Navy-oriented academics, and was ultimately promoted from E-l 
     to E-3 before ever leaving for the Recruit Training Center 
     (Boot Camp).
       Once at Boot Camp he again excelled in academics, athletics 
     and leadership, completing the program as the ``Honor 
     Graduate'' the number one person in his class, as voted on by 
     both his peers and the senior staff. He then attended his 
     actual Hospital Corpsman medical training, ``A'' School, 
     followed by Advanced Combat Medical Training, ``C'' School. 
     Working with experienced combat veterans, he reaffirmed his 
     desire to provide a critical service to those in harms way. 
     He knew full well that he too would be at the forefront of 
     the action.
       Christopher deployed to Iraq in September of this year. The 
     moment his aircraft's door opened to the 120 degree heat, he 
     knew this would be the start of his greatest challenge. He 
     loved the people of this country, however he began to see 
     immediate action, and was soon credited by senior medical 
     staff for saving the life of a Marine sergeant seriously 
     wounded on patrol by an improvised explosive device (IED).
       Christopher earned the affectionate title of ``Doc.'' This 
     title is only given to Navy Hospital Corpsmen who have 
     impressed their U.S. Marine Corps counterparts with medical 
     excellence under field combat conditions. His colonel also 
     credited him with the compliment, ``The most squared away 
     `Marine' we have in this Unit.''
       Christopher gave his life in the defense of his nation, his 
     local community, his Marine brethren and his family. 
     Christopher wanted all his life to make a difference in this 
     world and in his short 24 years accomplished more than most 
     will ever accomplish in a lifetime.

  Mr. Speaker, we are so fortunate to live in this great country where 
freedom is something that we rarely have to think about and often take 
for granted. It is simply a way of life for us, and we are truly 
blessed to live in a country that honors citizens for their spirit, 
their ideas, their individuality, and their courage. We can maintain 
the blessings of our freedoms only because we have citizens like 
Hospitalman Christopher A. Anderson who are willing to fight to defend 
them for us. My most sincere condolences go out to Rick and Debra and 
the entire Anderson family for loss of their beloved son.

                          ____________________