[Congressional Record Volume 158, Number 37 (Wednesday, March 7, 2012)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E329-E330]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




               TRIBUTE TO LT. CMDR. DALE T. TAYLOR, USCG

                                 ______
                                 

                             HON. JO BONNER

                               of alabama

                    in the house of representatives

                        Wednesday, March 7, 2012

  Mr. BONNER. Mr. Speaker, I rise to pay tribute to U.S. Coast Guard 
Lt. Cmdr. Dale T. Taylor, age 36, and to honor his heroic and tireless 
service to our country.
  Lt. Cmdr. Taylor was one of four U.S. Coast Guard crewmen aboard a MH 
65C Dolphin helicopter when it crashed into Mobile Bay on February 28, 
2012, during an evening training mission. The accident claimed the 
lives of each of the crew.
  Lt. Cmdr. Taylor, a rescue pilot and father of two young sons, was 
stationed at the Aviation Training Center in Mobile, Alabama. He and 
his family are active members of Cottage Hill Baptist Church, where he 
served as a deacon.
  An accomplished pilot who was devoted to saving lives, Lt. Cmdr. 
Taylor received the Coast Guard Medal in 2003 for heroism while heading 
a rescue mission near Key West, Florida. According to the award 
citation quoted by the Mobile Press-Register, Lt. Cmdr. Taylor braved 
rough seas to rescue a victim. ``Despite jeopardizing his own safety, 
Lieutenant Taylor grabbed the victim and with all his remaining 
strength swam to the basket and lifted the exhausted survivor to safety 
shortly before the survivor would have surely succumbed to the seas.''
  Lt. Cmdr. Taylor and his fellow crewmen of CG 6535 each shared a love 
of service and a dedication to saving lives. The Coast Guard is a vital 
protector for our nation's coastal communities. We can never thank them 
enough for their commitment to our country.
  Mobile is a Coast Guard city and we suffer the loss of Lt. Cmdr. 
Taylor as one of our own. We grieve with his family and we stand with 
them and the entire United States Coast Guard family.


[[Page E330]]


  To quote the words of the Coast Guard hymn,

     Eternal Father, Lord of hosts,
     Watch o'er the men who guard our coasts.
     Protect them from the raging seas
     And give them light and life and peace.
     Grant them from Thy great throne above
     The shield and shelter of Thy love.

  On behalf of the people of Alabama and a grateful nation, I offer 
condolences to Lt. Cmdr. Taylor's, wife, Teresa, and their sons, Evan 
and Emmett, as well as other family and many friends. You are each in 
our thoughts and prayers.

                          ____________________