[Congressional Record Volume 159, Number 173 (Monday, December 9, 2013)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1813]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




   IN RECOGNITION OF CORPORAL DONNY DAUGHENBAUGH, U.S. MARINE CORPS 
                                (RET.).

                                 ______
                                 

                        HON. RANDY K. WEBER, SR.

                                of texas

                    in the house of representatives

                        Monday, December 9, 2013

  Mr. WEBER of Texas. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to offer my support and 
deepest thanks for a fine young man and outstanding soldier from my 
congressional district--Corporal Donny Daughenbaugh, U.S. Marine Corps 
(Ret.).
  Corporal Daughenbaugh was hit with a bullet in the face, and 
miraculously survived the injury. After a long and grueling 
rehabilitation, he has made it his life's mission to give back to 
veterans facing similar situations. He is now the Assistant Vice 
President and National Spokesperson for the Coalition to Salute 
America's Heroes. A 501(c)(3), non-profit, non-partisan organization, 
it was established in 2004 to provide severely wounded veterans of the 
wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, and their families, with emergency 
financial assistance and other support services to help them recover 
from injuries and rebuild their lives. The Coalition has also provided 
several grants to various programs benefiting veterans in Texas, which 
is home to approximately 1.7 million veterans.
  On December 9-13, the Coalition will host ``The 7th Annual Road to 
Recovery Conference and Tribute'' in Orlando, Florida to help hundreds 
of military veterans and their families adjust to civilian life. 
Although he may never fully recover from his injury, Corporal 
Daughenbaugh has been able to inspire others through his story of 
resilience. The bullet lodged in his brain is a constant reminder of 
his service to our nation as a proud member of the U.S. Marine Corps.
  Together with Coalition CEO David Walker, Corporal Daughenbaugh is 
rebuilding an organization that rebuilds lives. In just one year, they 
have transformed an organization with a righteous mission into a 
leading national organization that gives hope to veterans.
  Their mission: ensuring our war-weary nation does not lose sight of 
its obligations to those protecting our freedoms. The Coalition is 
addressing a serious challenge facing our nation: helping thousands of 
returning veterans reintegrate into American society by creating a 
safety net that would help returning veterans avoid the high rates of 
unemployment (averaging 17.9 percent nationwide), suicide (24 per day), 
divorce (60 percent), etc. Unfortunately, these true American heroes 
often receive little or no support from the nation for which they 
sacrificed so much. Because of a shortage of funding and an 
interminable bureaucratic backlog at the Veterans Administration, they 
wait for roughly a year, on average, to receive disability pay and 
benefits. Thousands never receive the proper care for PTSD, because it 
still remains a largely misunderstood condition.
  The Coalition is an organization standing in the gap--and their work 
is already producing impressive results through public and private 
partnerships across the nation. One of these successful endeavors is 
with a Dallas-based international restaurant chain, Bennigan's, and 
their ``Wall of Heroes'' initiative. Through the promotion, Bennigan's 
customers are invited to purchase a drink, write a note, and upload a 
picture in honor of anyone currently serving or those who have served 
in the U.S. Armed Forces.
  Corporal Daughenbaugh also has been a guest of honor at multiple 
``Happy Hour with a Hero'' events sponsored by Bennigan's--and his 
story has also been featured on their Wall of Heroes site.
  America has been a nation at war for the longest period of time in 
our history--bringing a new set of challenges, not only our military 
fighting force, but to a generation of young veterans. Many are facing 
unprecedented physical and psychological trauma while transitioning 
back to civilian careers. Over 1 million veterans are expected to make 
that transition this year. Through his work with the Coalition to 
Salute America's Heroes, Corporal Daughenbaugh is inspiring thousands 
of young veterans who are on a road to recovery from their injuries. I 
applaud his work and dedication. He is indeed a true American hero.

                          ____________________