[Congressional Record Volume 161, Number 45 (Tuesday, March 17, 2015)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E346-E347]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                LOUISIANA NATIONAL GUARDSMEN REMEMBERED

                                  _____
                                 

                           HON. GARRET GRAVES

                              of louisiana

                    in the house of representatives

                        Tuesday, March 17, 2015

  Mr. GRAVES of Louisiana. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to remember the 
lives and service of eleven Guardsmen and Marines who were lost to us 
on March 10, 2015, when their UH-60M Black Hawk helicopter crashed off 
the coast of Florida during a training exercise.
  The lives of these brave service personnel, who perished while 
serving our country, are remembered by my colleagues Congressman Walter 
Jones of North Carolina and the North Carolina delegation, the state 
which is home to those Marines who trained at Camp Lejeune, and 
Congressman Jeff Miller of Florida and the Florida delegation, the 
location of the sad incident.
  I am joined by the Louisiana delegation on the House floor today to 
share with our colleagues the memory of our Louisiana Guardsmen, to 
stand silently in a moment of prayer, and to state for the record the 
poignant words of Louisiana Adjutant General, Major General Glenn 
Curtis, who eloquently memorialized the honorable service of our 
Louisiana Guardsmen in his March 16, 2015, statement, which is 
submitted for the Record herein:

       Four Louisiana National Guardsmen from the 1st Assault 
     Helicopter Battalion, 244th Aviation Regiment who died in a 
     training accident, March 10, have been identified.
       Chief Warrant Officer 4 George Wayne Griffin Jr, 37; Chief 
     Warrant Officer 4 George David Strother, 44; Staff Sgt. Lance 
     Bergeron, 40; and Staff Sgt. Thomas Florich, 26; died when a 
     UH-60M Black Hawk they were riding on crashed into the Santa 
     Rosa Sound, Florida.
       ``These Guardsmen represent the best of us,'' said Maj. 
     Gen. Glenn H. Curtis, the adjutant general of the Louisiana 
     National Guard. ``These are brave men, true men. These 
     Heroes' names will forever be etched on our hearts and in our 
     minds.''
       Griffin, of Delhi, joined the Louisiana National Guard in 
     1994. He deployed to Iraq in 2004-2005 and again in 2008-
     2009. He also served during state deployments during 
     Hurricanes Katrina, Rita and Isaac as well as in support of 
     Operations River Guardian and Deepwater Horizon.
       Griffin commissioned as a warrant officer in 1999 before 
     going on to become the battalion standardization pilot with 
     over 6,000 flight hours, including more than 1,000 combat 
     hours.
       ``G Wayne Griffin was born to be an Army Aviator,'' said 
     Chief Warrant Officer 5 Reggie Lane, commander of Detachment 
     38, Operational Support Airlift Command. ``As one of the most 
     talented and respected Warrant Officers in the Louisiana 
     National Guard, he had a tremendous passion for flying, and a 
     God-given natural ability to fly both helicopters and 
     airplanes and to teach others to be the best aviators and 
     crewmembers that they could be.
       ``He was a great friend and brother to all. With his loss, 
     there will be a void that may never be filled.''
       Griffin is survived by his wife, four children and father.
       Strother, of Alexandria, served in the Louisiana National 
     Guard from 1988-2007, and again from 2009 until his death. He 
     deployed to Iraq in 2004-2005, Afghanistan in 2011 and Kosovo 
     in 2014. He also served during state deployments for 
     Hurricanes Katrina, Rita and Isaac.
       Strother commissioned as a warrant officer in 1994 before 
     going on to become an instructor pilot with over 2,400 flight 
     hours, including more than 700 combat hours.
       ``To describe Dave Strother as a big personality would not 
     be accurate. He was more like a force of nature that could 
     best be observed and marveled at, never opposed or altered,'' 
     said Maj. Andre Jeansonne, commander, F Co., 2nd Battalion, 
     135th Aviation Regiment. ``His huge heart touched the lives 
     of all he met.''
       Strother is survived by his wife, son and step-daughter, 
     and mother.
       Bergeron, of Thibodaux, enlisted into the U.S. Marine Corps 
     in 1998 before joining the LANG in 2001 as a Black Hawk 
     repairer. His extensive experience as a qualified enlisted 
     flight instructor, graduate of the aircraft crewmember 
     standardization instructor course, aircraft maintainer 
     course, and warrior leader course made Bergeron a crew chief 
     others aspired to be, according to members of his unit.
       The combat veteran deployed to Iraq twice, in 2004-2005 and 
     2008-2009. Bergeron also served during state deployments for 
     Hurricanes Katrina, Rita, Isaac and Operation River Guardian.
       According to Sgt. 1st Class Brian Marquez, platoon 
     sergeant, A Co., 1-244th AHB, Bergeron was one of the most 
     qualified crew chiefs in the Guard, with more than 1,300 
     flight hours, including 377 combat hours.
       ``Lance was one of the most dedicated crew chiefs that I 
     have ever had the pleasure of serving with during my 
     leadership,'' Marquez said. ``As the senior most 
     standardization crew chief instructor in the Battalion, he 
     was a subject matter expert in his job who exhibited an 
     excitement of learning new skills and educating new unit 
     members on the UH-60 aircraft, pilots and crew chiefs alike.
       ``Lance was a very family oriented father and husband, and 
     he impacted many in the ranks. He will be greatly missed.''
       Bergeron is survived by his wife, two children and his 
     parents.
       Staff Sgt. Thomas Florich, of Fairfax County, Virginia, 
     enlisted in the LANG in 2007 as a Black Hawk repairer. He was 
     posthumously promoted from sergeant to staff sergeant.
       Florich served during state deployments for Operation 
     Deepwater Horizon and Hurricane Isaac. He earned more than 
     125 flight hours and was a graduate of the warrior leader 
     course.
       ``Tom was full of life, and his personality could light the 
     room,'' said Marquez. ``He was `family' with unit members and 
     felt at home working with his brothers in Alpha Company. His 
     dedication to duty and loyalty was without equal, always 
     ready to accept any mission and extra duty in order to help 
     the unit meet the mission. He will be greatly missed by the 
     unit and the flight facility.''
       Florich is survived by his wife, father and stepmother.

[[Page E347]]

       ``These are not ordinary men. They were extraordinary 
     people, as well as amazing aviators and crew chiefs,'' said 
     Lt. Col. John L. Bonnette II, commander of the 1-244th. When 
     I say they were heroes, I mean it many times over. They 
     risked their lives under difficult conditions flying in 
     combat, and during national emergencies, to ensure our 
     security and help save thousands of people. I don't have the 
     words to sum up their lives in a few sentences. You just 
     can't.
       ``Our whole aviation family is reeling from this loss, the 
     hole that is left is enormous. They were part of the fabric 
     of this unit, the difference they made with everyone they 
     served with will be a lasting legacy. Personally flying with 
     all of them was a privilege and honor--I am a better person 
     for having known them.''
       These aviators had a camaraderie that was second to none in 
     the military.
       ``This crew was made up of larger-than-life men who had a 
     passion for Army Aviation that was so evident in the 
     dedication that they had towards their profession,'' said 
     Col. Patrick R. Bossetta, commander of the State Aviation 
     Command. I know this as I have personally flown with each one 
     of them. They were driven by their intense desire to 
     selflessly serve their country, fellow Soldiers and Marines.
       ``Whether flying in combat or during national emergencies, 
     this crew arose everyday with a fever to serve and keep safe 
     the citizens of this great Nation. While their families and 
     our aviation community are heartbroken and immensely 
     suffering over their tragic loss, these heroic men would want 
     us to catch their fever to honorably serve the citizens of 
     this Nation and continue to grow.''
       ``These brave men died doing something they loved. May we 
     all be so lucky, and may they always fly high,'' said Curtis.
       The Louisiana Army National Guard was participating in a 
     routine night-time training exercise with the Marine 2nd 
     Special Operations Battalion. The Black Hawk carrying the 
     four aircrew and seven Marines crashed into the Santa Rosa 
     Sound in Navarre, Florida, March 10.
       Griffin's awards and decorations include the Meritorious 
     Service Medal, Air Medal (2nd Award), Army Reserve Components 
     Achievement Medal (6th Award), National Defense Service Medal 
     with Bronze Service Star, Iraq Campaign Medal with two 
     Campaign Stars, Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal, 
     Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, Armed Forces Service 
     Medal, Humanitarian Service Medal (2nd Award), Armed Forces 
     Reserve Medal with Silver Hour Glass and M Device, 
     Noncommissioned Officer Professional Development Ribbon, Army 
     Service Ribbon, Overseas Service Ribbon (2nd Award), Army 
     Reserve Component Overseas Training Ribbon (4th Award), 
     Louisiana War Cross (2nd Award), Louisiana Emergency Service 
     Medal (3rd Award), Louisiana General Excellence Ribbon and 
     Louisiana Longevity Ribbon. He had earned the Combat Action 
     Badge, Senior Army Aviator Badge and Basic Aviation Badge.
       Strother's awards and decorations include the Air Medal 
     (3rd Award), Army Commendation Medal (3rd Award), Army 
     Reserve Component Achievement Medal (7th Award), National 
     Defense Service Medal with Bronze Service Star, Armed Forces 
     Expeditionary Medal, Afghanistan Campaign Medal with Campaign 
     Star, Iraq Campaign Medal, Global War on Terrorism Service 
     Medal, Humanitarian Service Medal, Armed Forces Reserve Medal 
     with Silver Hourglass and M Device, Noncommissioned Officer 
     Professional Development Ribbon, Army Service Ribbon, 
     Overseas Service Ribbon (3rd Award), NATO Medal, Louisiana 
     War Cross (3rd Award), Louisiana Cold War Victory Ribbon, 
     Louisiana Emergency Service Medal (3rd Award), Louisiana 
     General Excellence Ribbon and Louisiana Longevity Ribbon (4th 
     Award). He had earned the Combat Action Badge and Master 
     Aviator Badge.
       Bergeron's awards include the Meritorious Service Medal, 
     Air Medal, Army Commendation Medal (3rd Award), Army Good 
     Conduct Medal, Army Reserve Components Achievement Medal (3rd 
     Award), National Defense Service Medal with Bronze Service 
     Star, Iraq Campaign Medal with 2 Campaign Stars, Global War 
     on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal, Global War on Terrorism 
     Service Medal, Armed Forces Service Medal, Humanitarian 
     Service Medal (2nd Award), Armed Forces Reserve Medal with 
     Bronze Hour Glass and M Device, Noncommissioned Officer 
     Professional Development Ribbon, Army Service Ribbon, 
     Overseas Service Ribbon (2nd Award), Army Reserve Components 
     Overseas Training Ribbon, Sea Service Deployment Ribbon 
     (Navy), Louisiana War Cross (2nd Award), Louisiana Emergency 
     Service Medal (3rd Award), Louisiana General Excellence 
     Ribbon (3rd Award) and Louisiana Longevity Ribbon (2nd 
     Award). He had also earned the Combat Action Badge and Senior 
     Aviation Badge.
       Florich's awards include the Army Achievement Medal, Army 
     Reserve Components Achievement Medal (2nd Award), National 
     Defense Service Medal, Noncommissioned Officer Professional 
     Development Ribbon, Army Service Ribbon, Army Reserve 
     Components Overseas Training Ribbon, Coast Guard Special 
     Operations Service Ribbon, Louisiana Emergency Service Ribbon 
     (2nd Award), Louisiana General Excellence Ribbon and 
     Louisiana Longevity Ribbon. He had also earned the Basic 
     Aviation Badge.

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