[Congressional Record Volume 154, Number 184 (Tuesday, December 9, 2008)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E2350]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                      IN MEMORY OF DR. CHARLES LEA

                                 ______
                                 

                            HON. IKE SKELTON

                              of missouri

                    in the house of representatives

                       Tuesday, December 9, 2008

  Mr. SKELTON. Madam Speaker, it is with grief that I inform the House 
of the death of Dr. Charles Lea, Lt. Col., United States Army (ret.) of 
Lexington, Missouri.
  Dr. Lea was born and raised in Brunswick, Missouri, and graduated 
from Brookfield High School in 1952. Dr. Lea then spent a year at Rolla 
School of Mines before he entered West Point where he graduated in 
1957. Upon graduation he spent 3\1/2\ years in Germany before taking 
paratrooper training at Fort Benning. Choosing to attend University of 
Missouri Medical School over Ivy League offers, he graduated in 1965 to 
intern at Fitzsimmons in Denver, Colorado.
  Following his education path, Dr. Lea went directly to Vietnam. 
Serving in the 1st Brigade of the 101st Airborne, Dr. Lea was awarded 
several medals and citations, including: Bronze Star, Legion of Merit, 
Soldier's Medal, four Air Medals, Army Commendation Medal, Viet Cross 
of Gallantry, Combat Medical Badge, and Parachute Badge.
  After his service in Vietnam, Dr. Lea choose to become a general 
practice family physician in Oklahoma and Lafayette County, Missouri. 
Dr. Lea served as the chief of staff at Stillwater Regional Health 
Center, Stillwater, Oklahoma; Lafayette Regional Medical Center, 
Lexington, Missouri; and I-70 Medical Center, Sweet Springs, Missouri.
  Madam Speaker, Dr. Lea was a respected father, physician, and 
soldier. I know the Members of the House will join me in extending 
heartfelt condolences to his family: his wife, Kay Lea; his children, 
DeJean, George, Elisabeth, Darren, Nikki, and Scott; and his 
grandchildren, Jacqueline, William, Emily, Chelsea, Hunter, Gabriel, 
Elizabeth, Dylan, Maxwell, Regan, and Hayden.

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