[Congressional Record Volume 158, Number 86 (Friday, June 8, 2012)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1030]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                       TRIBUTE TO KYLE McCULLOUGH

                                 ______
                                 

                            HON. GREG WALDEN

                               of oregon

                    in the house of representatives

                          Friday, June 8, 2012

  Mr. WALDEN. Mr. Speaker, it is with great pride that I rise today to 
pay special tribute to Kyle McCullough. Kyle, a 28-year-old Wasco 
County resident, is a former Army Special Forces soldier who served 
this country with honor and distinction. In Ramadi in 2006, he fought 
in one of the toughest engagements our forces encountered during 
Operation Iraqi Freedom. And now Kyle is currently in the process of 
reenlisting in the Army.
  While at home, his mind is not far from his comrades in harm's way 
overseas. In recent conversation with his little brother, USMC 1st Lt. 
Kristoffer ``Turf'' McCullough, currently serving in Afghanistan, he 
was asked: ``Do people even remember that we're over here?''
  Kyle, as ever his nature, jumped into action. In May, Kyle walked a 
distance of 198 miles over eight days from his home in Dufur to the 
Oregon coast in Seaside to raise awareness for the troops. That's an 
average of 24.5 miles every day, or two miles longer than the driving 
distance between Hood River and The Dalles.
  During the trek, Kyle not only raised a few blisters on the bottom of 
his feet, but he also raised money for the Hood River-based Gorge 
Heroes Club, which provides care packages to deployed troops in Iraq 
and Afghanistan. With the money Kyle raised, the Gorge Heroes Club will 
be able to provide 1,250 soldiers overseas with morale-boosting care 
packages from home.
  Media throughout the northwest covered Kyle's walk--and it was not 
lost on deployed servicemen and women overseas, either. Oregon National 
Guard Major Jack Gillentine, stationed in Kabul, said in a recent 
letter to the Gorge Heroes Club, ``Thank you very much for the packages 
you sent us. Some of the non-perishable food goes on our trucks for 
missions when we cannot get to a chow hall. I especially wanted to say 
thank you to Kyle McCullough. I read the article and I appreciate his 
huge effort. Thank you for all you do.''
  The Gorge Heroes Club supported more than 5,000 troops last year 
alone. As a direct result of Kyle's dedication and willingness to 
persevere through pain and exhaustion, troops deployed around the globe 
will continue to receive these much needed morale boosting care 
packages.
  Mr. Speaker, I ask that my fellow colleagues join me in recognizing 
Kyle McCullough. He has earned the thanks of a grateful Nation not only 
for his courage on the battlefield, but for his homefront support of 
his fellow servicemen and women who every day put their lives on the 
line for our way of life.

                          ____________________