[Congressional Record Volume 157, Number 31 (Thursday, March 3, 2011)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E416]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




          CONGRATULATING SILVER STAR RECIPIENT JOSHUA R. LABBE

                                 ______
                                 

                           HON. JOE COURTNEY

                             of connecticut

                    in the house of representatives

                        Thursday, March 3, 2011

  Mr. COURTNEY. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to congratulate Army SGT 
Joshua R. Labbe for receiving the prestigious Silver Star--the third 
highest honor for valor in the Army. I also want to share with you a 
brief account of the remarkable story that earned him this award while 
serving in the Baghlan Province of Afghanistan.
  Labbe, a former tight end on Stonington High School's football team, 
was raised in Pawcatuck, Connecticut. To the surprise of his family and 
friends but with their support, Joshua enlisted in the Army shortly 
after graduating, expressing his deep desire to make a difference. He 
did just that.
  Joshua was awarded the Silver Star for leading his squadron through 
more than 6 hours of consecutive battles on October 6 of this year. He 
and his platoon began the day before dawn sweeping for mines in a 
mountainous region--one deemed critical in the fight to protect supply 
routes and crack down on drug trafficking in the province.
  Not long after the operation had finished, Labbe and his squad came 
under heavy small arms fire from a group of Taliban fighters 
outnumbering them by roughly three to one. Following an order to 
retreat from their hillside position, Labbe returned--through enemy 
gunfire--to accompany several soldiers to safety including one who fell 
and had to be carried. Later, while towing a damaged truck in the midst 
of an ambush, Labbe provided cover fire--from close range and from an 
exposed position--for the recovery team. They all returned to base with 
no casualties.
  Sergeant Labbe is one of just 195 soldiers to receive a Silver Star 
in Afghanistan since 2003. While this account provides only a glimpse 
of the heroic actions that earned him this honor, Joshua's 
contributions and deep devotion to protecting this country are clear. I 
ask my colleagues to join me in congratulating and honoring SGT Joshua 
R. Labbe for his service and sacrifice to this great nation.

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