[Congressional Record Volume 161, Number 55 (Thursday, April 16, 2015)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E523]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                      HONORING COLONEL BILL BADGER

                                  _____
                                 

                         HON. RAUUL M. GRIJALVA

                               of arizona

                    in the house of representatives

                        Thursday, April 16, 2015

  Mr. GRIJALVA. Mr. Speaker, I rise to honor Colonel Bill Badger, who 
passed away on March 11, 2015 at the age of seventy-eight.
  Originally from South Dakota, Colonel Badger joined the National 
Guard as a high school junior and went on to enjoy a long, 
distinguished career as a United States Army pilot for thirty-seven 
years. A true patriot who served his country with honor and dignity, he 
served as Chief of the National Guard Bureau's Aviation Division at the 
Pentagon. Among his many professional accomplishments, he established 
the only two United States-based attack helicopter training sites: the 
Eastern Army Aviation Training Site in Pennsylvania and the Western 
Army Aviation Training Site in Marana, Arizona. Colonel Badger and his 
wife, Sallie, moved to Arizona in 1985 when Colonel Badger established 
the Marana site.
  On the morning of January 8, 2011, Colonel Badger attended a Congress 
on your Corner event at a shopping center north of Tucson to meet then-
Congresswoman Gabrielle Giffords. That fateful morning a gunman opened 
fire on the innocent attendees, brutally murdering six and seriously 
wounding thirteen, including Colonel Badger and Congresswoman Giffords. 
As the gunman was reloading his weapon, Colonel Badger, who was injured 
and bleeding from the head, ran toward the gunman and put him into a 
chokehold until the authorities arrived, thus stopping the deadly 
rampage. But for the valiant actions of Colonel Badger, the toll of 
those killed and wounded would have been much higher. ``I don't 
consider myself a hero,'' he would later say, ``I did what anybody 
would do.'' Colonel Badger was a beloved friend to the January 8, 2011 
survivors. After this devastating event, this humble hero focused his 
efforts on keeping guns out of the hands of people like the January 8, 
2011 gunman so as to prevent future similar tragedies. Colonel Badger 
and his wife embarked on a three-year journey across the country to 
promote his mission.
  Colonel Badger was a hero to many long before he became one in the 
eyes of our nation on January 8, 2011. He was a caring and devoted 
husband to his wife, Sallie, a nurturing and loving father to his son, 
Christian, the beloved Scout master of Troop 007, a guide and counselor 
to numerous young people, many of whom attribute their current success 
to Colonel Badger's mentoring, and a friend to countless others, 
including the members of the Southern Arizona Jaguar Car Club, which he 
served as President for a time.
  On March 11, 2015, the citizens of Arizona lost a friend who placed 
the safety and well-being of others above his own and who truly 
represented the best traits of humanity, heroism and sacrifice and the 
spirit of service to others. The citizens of Arizona owe Colonel Badger 
an extraordinary debt of gratitude for his tremendous service to our 
country and state.
  Dedicated to his family, Colonel Badger will be greatly missed by his 
beloved wife, Sallie Badger, and his son, Christian Badger.

                          ____________________