[Congressional Record Volume 160, Number 42 (Thursday, March 13, 2014)]
[Senate]
[Page S1648]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                        TRIBUTE TO WILLIE McTEAR

 Mr. HELLER. Madam President, I wish to honor long-time Las 
Vegas resident and veteran, Willie McTear, who served our Nation in 
Vietnam.
  Our Nation's veterans--the very men and women who put themselves in 
harm's way--protect the freedoms that Americans enjoy every day. I am 
grateful to these brave men and women in the Armed Forces, as well as 
their families, who make significant sacrifices in service to our 
Nation.
  I am humbled to honor Mr. McTear for his dedication while serving in 
the military as a Rifleman/90mm Specialist. Mr. McTear is a veteran of 
Charlie Company, which was one of the last combat infantries of 160 men 
to be drafted, trained, and sent to fight in Vietnam. Despite 
significant risks and challenges, the men of the 4th Battalion of the 
47th Infantry saw their service as a rite of passage. However, it did 
not come without the wounds of war and the loss of close comrades, and 
for that, our Nation is indebted to these servicemembers.
  Serving on the Senate Veterans' Affairs Committee, I recognize that 
Congress has a responsibility not only to honor these brave 
individuals, but to ensure they are cared for when they return home. I 
remain committed to upholding this promise for our veterans and 
servicemembers in Nevada and throughout the Nation.
  Today, we commend Mr. McTear for his acts of valor and the continuous 
sacrifices made by all of our servicemembers to ensure the safety and 
security of our Nation. We owe them and their families a great deal of 
gratitude for their commitment to America. I am proud to join the 
citizens of Nevada in recognizing Mr. McTear, and I ask my colleagues 
to join me in honoring him for his service on behalf of this great 
Nation.

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