[Congressional Record Volume 160, Number 8 (Tuesday, January 14, 2014)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E64]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                       HONORING GREGORY L. YOUNG

                                  _____
                                 

                        HON. BENNIE G. THOMPSON

                             of mississippi

                    in the house of representatives

                       Tuesday, January 14, 2014

  Mr. THOMPSON of Mississippi. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor a 
remarkable veteran, Mr. Gregory L. Young. Mr. Young has shown what can 
be done through hard work, setting goals, and aiming high.
  Gregory L. Young was born December 20, 1963 in Yazoo City, 
Mississippi to Doris and Neal Young. Gregory graduated from Yazoo City 
High School in May of 1981. He attended University of Southern 
Mississippi, Hattiesburg, MS from August 1981 to May of 1982 when he 
joined the United States Navy in the spring of 1982. In August of 1982 
he began his U.S. Navy career at the Navy Recruit Training Command 
(NRTC) in Great Lakes, Illinois.
  After graduating from his Navy (A) School, Gregory was assigned to 
the U.S.S. Estocin FFG-15 home ported at Naval Station Mayport, 
Florida. In October 1985 he transferred to the U.S.S. Charles F. Adams 
DDG-2 and served until February 1989. Later in February, 1989, Gregory 
transferred to Navy Recruiting District (NRD) St. Louis, MO and served 
as a Navy Recruiter in Columbia, Missouri until March, 1993. While on 
recruiting duty, he attained the rank of E-6 and ultimately served as 
the Recruiter in Charge of the local recruiting office.
  After a successful tour of recruiting duty, he transferred to the 
U.S.S. Wainwright CG-28 home ported out of Charleston, South Carolina. 
He served onboard the U.S.S. Wainwright from April, 1993 until 
November, 1993 as a CIC Watch Supervisor.
  In November, 1993 Gregory decided to leave the U.S. Navy and was 
honorably discharged as an Operation Specialist First Class. He served 
his country honorably for a total of 11 years. During that time, he 
participated in three six month deployments, two Special Operations 
deployments and numerous exercises and humanitarian operations. He has 
also received numerous awards throughout his naval services including: 
Navy Achievement Medal, National Defense Service Medal, U.S. Coast 
Guard Meritorious Unit Commendation, Battle ``E'' Award (3), Sea 
Service Deployment Ribbon (3), Good Conduct Award (2), the Navy 
Recruiting Ribbon and Gold Wreath Award (2).
  After Gregory's tenure with the U.S. Navy, he was hired by the SkyTel 
Corp. in May of 1994 as a Customer Service Representative in Jackson, 
MS. While in this position he was selected along with a few other 
employees to conduct testing of the Skytel Two Way Paging network 
through the United States. He was later promoted to Network Operator in 
the company's Network Operation Center. Gregory enjoyed working for 
SkyTel and stayed with the company until it was later sold and 
relocated in December, 2008. After a long period of unemployment due to 
the economic recession, he went to work for Comcast as a Customer 
Account Executive in February, 2010 and remained until November, 2010.
  In December, 2010 Gregory accepted an offer from the Department of 
Homeland Security as a Transportation Security Officer (TSO) with the 
Transportation Security Agency (TSA). Currently, he is a dual certified 
TSO at the Jackson Municipal Airport. He was selected as TSO of the 
Quarter (April-June 2012) for the State of Mississippi. In January of 
2013 he was selected as the TSO of The Year 2012 for the State of 
Mississippi.
  Gregory is a devout member of North Jackson Baptist Church in 
Jackson, MS where he serves as a trustee.
  Mr. Speaker, I ask my colleagues to join me in recognizing Mr. 
Gregory L. Young for his dedication to serving our great Country and 
his community.

                          ____________________