[Congressional Record Volume 163, Number 105 (Tuesday, June 20, 2017)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E846]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




              HONORING THE SERVICE OF CHRISTOPHER BARADAT

                                 ______
                                 

                           HON. JARED HUFFMAN

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                         Tuesday, June 20, 2017

  Mr. HUFFMAN. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize Staff Sergeant 
Christopher Baradat for heroic actions that were essential in rescuing 
150 coalition soldiers in Afghanistan on April 6, 2013, and ultimately 
earned him the Air Force Cross which was presented to him on April 20, 
2017.
   Raised in Marin County, Mr. Baradat graduated from San Marin High 
School in 2007, and enlisted in the United States Air Force shortly 
thereafter. He served his country for eight years, and is now studying 
welding and technical skills at Laney College in Oakland, where he 
lives with his wife Kellie and his three children.
   On April 6, 2013, Staff Sgt. Baradat, a special tactics airman 
assigned to the 21st Special Tactics Squadron, was attached to a U.S. 
Army Special Forces Team in eastern Afghanistan. He was on his third 
deployment in Afghanistan. That day, his unit was called to support 
coalition soldiers who were surrounded and pinned down by Taliban 
fighters in a valley in the Kunar Province. Upon entering the valley 
his unit took direct fire from the ridge lines and other surrounding 
structures, forcing his team to take cover in a compound 400 meters 
away from coalition forces. Staff Sgt. Baradat's responsibility was to 
communicate with supporting aircraft and provide pilots with targeting 
information to strike enemy positions.
   Not being able to communicate with support aircraft through the 
compound walls, Staff Sgt. Baradat rushed out into the direct line of 
fire in order to communicate Taliban positions. Over the course of the 
next two hours, Staff Sgt. Baradat utilized 8 aircraft to drop 13 five 
hundred pound bombs and more than 1,100 rounds of ammunition on enemy 
positions surrounding his team and the coalition forces. The consistent 
barrage of fire created the conditions necessary for coalition forces 
and his team to withdraw from the valley. His heroism did not end there 
however, as he continued his communication with support aircraft 
throughout the exit out of the valley. Still putting himself in the 
direct line of fire, Staff Sgt. Baradat placed himself partially out of 
an armored carrier in order to maintain a secure communication signal 
with support aircraft. He would continue to do this until his entire 
team made it out of the valley.
   Because his actions had a decisive impact on the outcome of that 
day, Staff Sgt. Baradat received the Air Force Cross, which is the 
second highest military award that a member of the United States Air 
Force can receive. Staff Sgt. Baradat is only the ninth service member 
to have received the award since 9/11.
   Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to join me in expressing deep 
appreciation for Christopher Baradat's extraordinary heroism that day, 
and for the sacrifices he and his family have made for this country.

                          ____________________