[Congressional Record Volume 159, Number 64 (Wednesday, May 8, 2013)]
[House]
[Page H2526]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                    HONORING RAYMOND CLARK THOMPSON

  The SPEAKER pro tempore (Mr. Shimkus). Without objection, the first 
1-minute speech of the gentlewoman from Florida is vacated.
  There was no objection.
  Ms. FRANKEL of Florida. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
  I ask unanimous consent to address the House for 1 minute and to 
revise and extend my remarks.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the 
gentlewoman from Florida?
  There was no objection.
  Ms. FRANKEL of Florida. Mr. Speaker, I am proud to say that on 
Sunday, the Vietnam War veteran, Raymond Clark Thompson's name is being 
added to the Vietnam War Memorial wall, where he will be remembered for 
his valiant service in the Army and the extraordinary sacrifice for our 
country.
  A native of Indiana and the oldest of six children, Ray served in the 
Vietnam War as a radio specialist. On June 6, 1969, rockets were fired 
into Raymond's base camp, causing shrapnel to explode into his body 
from head to toe as he showered.
  Despite suffering severe wounds, Raymond, at age 21, persevered and 
went on to have a full life, later marrying his wife, Patricia, and 
fathering three children. And he later worked as a health technician in 
the VA Medical Center in West Palm Beach, my hometown, where he gave 
back to veterans like himself. Sadly, he fell ill in recent years to 
old war injuries and passed in October of 2010.
  With Raymond's name joining all the other valiant men and women at 
the Vietnam War Memorial, we're reminded every day of the bravery of 
the men and women who serve in our military and who are willing to 
sacrifice their lives for our own freedoms.

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