[Congressional Record Volume 157, Number 31 (Thursday, March 3, 2011)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E408]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]


                     IN HONOR OF MAJOR ANDRE McCOY

                                 ______
                                 

                            HON. JIM GERLACH

                            of pennsylvania

                    in the house of representatives

                        Thursday, March 3, 2011

  Mr. GERLACH. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to congratulate MAJ Andre C. 
McCoy of Bala Cynwyd, Montgomery County, Pennsylvania, on his 25 years 
of military service and to honor him on his outstanding career of 
accomplishment.
  Major McCoy joined the Marines in August of 1985. After completing 
basic training at Parris Island, South Carolina, he became an Artillery 
Fire Direction Control man through Fort Sill, Oklahoma. He served with 
Golf Battery, 3rd Battalion, 14th Marines (Reserve) based in Trenton, 
New Jersey. During Desert Shield and Desert Storm, Major McCoy was on 
active duty with 3rd Marine Expeditionary Force. He left the Marine 
Corps as a Corporal in 1991 to join the Bloomsburg University ROTC.
  Major McCoy's training as an ROTC cadet included Fort Bragg, North 
Carolina and Fort Benning, Georgia, where he also completed Airborne 
School and received his silver jump wings. He was commissioned as an 
Army Armor officer in 1993 and stationed at Fort Knox, Kentucky.
  Major McCoy transferred to 3rd Battalion, 103rd Armor, 55th Brigade, 
28th Infantry Division of the Pennsylvania National Guard. As part of 
the United States' global war on terror, he was sent to Hohenfels, 
Germany as the Executive Officer for Force Protection. Major McCoy 
transferred to 56th Stryker Brigade headquarters in Philadelphia. 
There, he participated in a number of state emergency responses as well 
as the response to Hurricane Katrina.
  Major McCoy served in Operation Iraqi Freedom with 1st Stryker 
Brigade Combat Team of the 25th Infantry Division in Diyala Province, 
and later in Operation Enduring Freedom with 4th Brigade Combat Team of 
the 82nd Airborne Division in Afghanistan. Throughout his exemplary 
career, Major McCoy has served 5 tours of duty. He was selected and 
approved for the rank of Major on June 3rd, 2010 and has received over 
20 awards and medals for his service.
  Mr. Speaker, I ask that my colleagues join me today in recognizing 
MAJ Andre C. McCoy for his invaluable contributions to his country in 
his quarter century of military service.

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