[Congressional Record Volume 160, Number 9 (Wednesday, January 15, 2014)]
[House]
[Page H237]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




            HONORING SPECIALIST TERRY K.D. ``DANTEZ'' GORDON

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The Chair recognizes the gentleman from 
Mississippi (Mr. Harper) for 5 minutes.
  Mr. HARPER. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor a great American hero, 
Specialist Terry K.D. ``Dantez'' Gordon, who was among six U.S. 
soldiers who passed away due to wounds suffered when their Black Hawk 
UH-60 helicopter went down in Afghanistan's Zabul region on December 
17, 2013.
  Specialist Gordon was born in Shubuta, Mississippi, on September 21, 
1991. After graduating from Quitman High School, Gordon enlisted in the 
Army in the summer of 2011, fulfilling his basic training requirements 
at Fort Jackson, South Carolina. He then went on to complete his 
advanced individual training at Fort Lee, Virginia, where he became a 
generator mechanic.
  Dantez was assigned to Echo Troop, 1st Squadron, 6th Cavalry 
Regiment, Fort Riley, Kansas. He was later trained as a door gunner and 
attached to Bravo Company, 3rd Assault Helicopter Battalion, 1st 
Aviation Regiment. There, Specialist Gordon was tasked with firing and 
maintaining manually directed armament during missions, protecting the 
helicopters' crew members and passengers throughout the deployment to 
Afghanistan.

                              {time}  1115

  Dantez Gordon loved helicopters. He knew very early on that he was 
meant for the Army because that is where he could fly in a Black Hawk.
  His family said they were surprised at first that he wasn't going 
into the Marine Corps like his father, but it became quite apparent 
that his interests were centered in going up in a helicopter. His 
family members were nervous, yet they realized that he loved what he 
was doing and he was not afraid.
  Dantez loved his family, his friends and his country. He was 
fortunate in that he loved what he was assigned to do, and he would 
talk about it any chance he got when he came home on leave with anyone 
who would listen.
  Specialist Gordon is remembered by those closest to him as always 
being happy, especially when he was outdoors or playing baseball. He 
was a practical joker, and he loved to make people laugh.
  His family and his community saw him as an all-around, very devoted, 
humble, smart, and respectable young man who lost his life way too 
soon. He lost his life fighting for our families and for our country, 
and for this, our country, and particularly, the State of Mississippi, 
will be forever grateful.
  ``Like ripples in the water,'' his aunt said, ``Dantez Gordon 
affected people he may have never even met,'' adding that the world is 
a better place because he was there.
  In an article that described the moment when Specialist Gordon's 
flag-draped coffin was taken off the plane at Key Field in Meridian, 
Mississippi, on his final journey home, a family member observed: ``As 
they unloaded him off the plane, the sun peeked through the cloudy gray 
sky, and as they put him into the hearse, the clouds closed back up.'' 
It was as if the sky opened up to pay its final respects to its beloved 
native Mississippi son.
  Specialist Gordon's awards and decorations include the Army 
Achievement Medal, the Army Good Conduct Medal, the National Defense 
Service Ribbon, the Afghan Campaign Medal with Campaign Star, the 
Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, the Army Service Ribbon, the 
Combat Action Badge and the Aviation Badge.
  Specialist Gordon was posthumously awarded the Bronze Star by 
executive order for meritorious service from August 13, 2013, until 
December 17, 2013, upon which no greater honor can be demonstrated than 
by this ultimate sacrifice. He will always be remembered for these 
actions.
  Dantez Gordon is survived by his parents, Terry W. Gordon of Pachuta, 
Mississippi, and Sabina R. Edwards of Shubuta, Mississippi; as well as 
his sister, Terruna Gordon; stepfather, David Edwards; and two half 
brothers, David Edwards and William Edwards.
  I was so moved at his funeral service to see what was really a 
celebration of his life.
  Mr. Speaker, I would like to leave you with a quote from Dantez's 
father: ``Dantez was my hero long before joining the military, but now 
he's America's hero.''
  How true that statement is. Dantez's love for his country and his 
dedication to protecting our freedoms took him from Shubuta, 
Mississippi, to Afghanistan. Christ said in John 15:13: ``Greater love 
hath no man than he that give his life for another.''
  For his courage and final sacrifice, he will never be forgotten. 
Thank you for this opportunity to place focus on a true American hero.

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