[Congressional Record Volume 157, Number 28 (Monday, February 28, 2011)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E326]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                    USUHS GRADUATES ARE APPRECIATED

                                 ______
                                 

                            HON. JOE WILSON

                           of south carolina

                    in the house of representatives

                       Monday, February 28, 2011

  Mr. WILSON of South Carolina. Mr. Speaker, January's tragedy of the 
shooting of Congresswoman Gabrielle Giffords highlighted the military 
medical education and training of three extraordinary physicians. I 
would like to recognize these doctors not only for their extraordinary 
abilities and service during the events in Tucson, but also for the 
fact they are all alumni of the Uniformed Services University of the 
Health Sciences at Bethesda, Maryland.
  Retired Navy Captain Peter Rhee, serves as chief of trauma at the 
University Medical Center in Tucson. Dr. Rhee was trained by the USUHS 
to manage complex wounds under strenuous conditions. Dr. Rhee relied on 
more than 20 years of military medical experience to perform life-
saving procedures in the hours following the tragedy in Tucson. Dr. 
Rhee's unique abilities helped to save the life of the Congresswoman.
  Dr. Rhee was assisted by interim chief of Neurology, Army Colonel 
Geoffrey Ling. Following the incident in Tuscon, Dr. Ling traveled to 
Afghanistan as part of a brain injury assessment team convened by the 
Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff. Dr. Ling was accompanied by Dr. 
Jim Ecklund. Dr. Ecklund is a highly regarded neurosurgeon who has had 
much experience caring for bullet injuries to the brain and a classmate 
of Dr. Rhee's at USUHS.
  The training provided by the military medical education allowed for 
these doctors to save the life of Congresswoman Giffords. I am grateful 
for their service to this country. I know first-hand of the world-class 
professionalism of USUHS because my second son is a proud graduate 
after attending the Naval Academy.
  In conclusion, God Bless our Troops, and we will never forget 
September 11th in the Global War on Terrorism.

                          ____________________