[Congressional Record Volume 160, Number 69 (Thursday, May 8, 2014)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E718]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




              TRIBUTE TO U.S. ARMY SERGEANT LAUREN MONTOYA

                                  _____
                                 

                            HON. BILL FLORES

                                of texas

                    in the house of representatives

                         Thursday, May 8, 2014

  Mr. FLORES. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor the service and 
sacrifice of U.S. Army Sergeant Lauren Montoya who was recently wounded 
while serving her nation in Afghanistan.
  Sergeant Montoya, from Austin, Texas, attended Texas A&M University 
for two years prior to joining the Army in January of 2011. Texas A&M 
has a long history of students who have answered the call to service, 
and Sergeant Montoya has kept that tradition alive.
  After completing basic training at Fort Jackson, South Carolina, the 
Army sent Sergeant Montoya to Fort Huachuca, Arizona where she was 
trained in the Military Intelligence field as a Human Intelligence 
Collector. She was subsequently stationed at Fort Drum, New York to 
serve with the combat-proven 10th Mountain Division. It was there that 
she continued to distinguish herself as an exemplary soldier. Ms. 
Montoya's superiors quickly noticed her leadership ability and promoted 
her to Sergeant in just two short years of service.
  Due to her dedication, professionalism and leadership ability, 
Sergeant Montoya was selected to participate in the Army's Cultural 
Support Team assisting a Special Forces unit conducting counter-
terrorism operations in Afghanistan. Her unique abilities as a Human 
Intelligence Collector and devotion to selfless service led to her 
assignment as an advisor to a Special Forces unit deployed to carry out 
volatile missions in Afghanistan.
  In November 2013, Sergeant Montoya deployed with her Special Forces 
unit to Afghanistan where they spent five months conducting missions in 
support of Operation Enduring Freedom. During that deployment, Sergeant 
Montoya's unit was attacked by an improvised explosive device while 
traveling from a mission in southern Afghanistan. Sergeant Montoya was 
injured in the attack but survived and was transported to the Brooke 
Army Medical Center in San Antonio, Texas to recover.
  Sergeant Montoya's commitment to duty and selfless service 
demonstrate her caliber as a soldier, Texan and American. During the 
tenure of her brief military career, Sergeant Montoya earned numerous 
awards and decorations including the Purple Heart, the Meritorious Unit 
Commendation, the Army Good Conduct Medal, the National Defense Service 
Medal, the Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, the Noncommissioned 
Officer Professional Development Ribbon, the Army Service Ribbon, the 
Marksmanship Qualification Badge--Marksman with Recoilless Rifle, and a 
meritorious count of five Army Achievement Medals.
  With the prayers and love from family and friends, Sergeant Montoya 
continues to recover at Brooke Army Medical Center and looks forward to 
the next steps in her future. Upon completion of her military service, 
she hopes to return to Texas A&M University and finish her degree.
  Her service and sacrifice to this country cannot be measured. On 
behalf of a grateful nation, I want to wish her a speedy recovery and 
all the blessings God may grant unto her.

                          ____________________