[Congressional Record Volume 163, Number 144 (Thursday, September 7, 2017)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1177]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                      HONORING DR. KENNETH K. LEE

                                 ______
                                 

                    HON. F. JAMES SENSENBRENNER, JR.

                              of wisconsin

                    in the house of representatives

                      Thursday, September 7, 2017

  Mr. SENSENBRENNER. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor Dr. Kenneth K. 
Lee, a combat-injured Operation Iraqi Freedom and Army veteran, who has 
been named by Disabled American Veterans (DAV) as its 2017 Outstanding 
Disabled Veteran of the Year.
  Dr. Lee, who deployed as the commander of the Army's Company B, 118th 
Area Support Medical Battalion, was injured in November 2004 by a 
suicide car bomber in Iraq. The explosion resulted in an open head 
traumatic brain injury and severe shrapnel wounds to his legs, leading 
to his evacuation back to the states, where he would later be diagnosed 
with post-traumatic stress disorder.
  While recovering from his injuries, Dr. Lee, a rehabilitation 
specialist, saw how long and difficult recovery could be, often leaving 
lasting changes. Dr. Lee, who resides in Brookfield, Wisconsin, is a 
volunteer physician at the National Disabled Veterans Winter Sports 
Clinic, which the Department of Veterans Affairs and DAV co-host, so he 
was no stranger to using adaptive sports as therapy. Through his own 
recovery, Dr. Lee propelled himself into the world of adaptive sports 
to help him deal with the psychological and physiological effects that 
can often times cause an individual to hit bottom.
  Within a year of Dr. Lee's retirement in 2013, he formed the 
Milwaukee Wheelchair Lacrosse team and is now the president of the 
Wisconsin Adaptive Sports Association, which runs numerous adaptive 
sports programs.
  On July 29, 2017, DAV National Commander David W. Riley presented Dr. 
Lee with the Outstanding Disabled Veteran of the Year award at the 
organization's 96th National Convention.
  In his statement, Riley praised Dr. Lee as a shining example of 
everything that is good about our nation and its veterans. He noted 
that the compassion Dr. Lee shows for other veterans and his work to 
help them find success is truly the hallmark of the award, and DAV is 
very proud of what he's doing for this community. Given the importance 
and therapeutic effectiveness of adaptive sports, it is vital to have 
experienced leaders like Dr. Lee involved and carving out a path 
forward.
  Despite his injuries and the constant pain in his lower extremities, 
Dr. Lee speaks with gratitude about his time in the Army. He will tell 
you that he got a lot more from the Guard than he put into it, and that 
he joined the military with his eyes wide open and has no regrets.
  Dr. Lee and his wife Kate currently live in Brookfield with their two 
children. In 2014, his daughter Leah earned a $10,000 scholarship by 
volunteering for the DAV at the Milwaukee VA Medical Center. On the 
same day that Dr. Lee was honored as DAV's Outstanding Disabled Veteran 
of the Year, his son Jonathan earned the charity's largest scholarship 
of $20,000, and was honored the same morning. They both hope ultimately 
to serve veterans as physicians through the VA.

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