[Congressional Record Volume 164, Number 125 (Wednesday, July 25, 2018)]
[House]
[Page H7673]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                          HONORING DANA BOWMAN

  (Ms. KAPTUR asked and was given permission to address the House for 1 
minute and to revise and extend her remarks.)
  Ms. KAPTUR. Mr. Speaker, John Quincy Adams once said:

       If your actions inspire others to dream more, learn more, 
     do more, and become more, you are a leader.

  Special Forces Sergeant Dana Bowman is the epitome of that leader, 
continuously inspiring those around him. Indeed, he is a retired 
sergeant first class with the U.S. Army Special Forces and a member of 
the elite parachute team, the Golden Knights.
  On February 6, 1994, while training and descending at 300 miles per 
hour from the plane that dropped him, he collided midair with his 
teammate, Sergeant Jose Aguillon. The result of that horrendous 
collision was the unfortunate death of Sergeant Aguillon and the 
severing of both of Sergeant Bowman's legs, one above the knee and the 
other below.
  Nine months following this deeply tragic event, he became the first 
double amputee to reenlist in the United States Army.
  I witnessed his fortitude firsthand this past week at the 2018 
opening of the national Civilian Marksmanship Program in Port Clinton, 
Ohio. On July 9, at Camp Perry, during the beginning of the shooting 
matches for this year, Sergeant Bowman began the program by parachuting 
from very high with a gigantic American flag that he helped unfurl as 
he landed on Earth. After a few short minutes, Sergeant Bowman landed 
perfectly right behind the podium. What a sight to behold.
  I say to my fellow countrymen, truly, this man embraces the words, 
``Land of the free, home of the brave,'' and teaches us all how to rise 
above adversity and reach beyond whatever limitations life may deliver 
to any of us.
  Godspeed, Sergeant Bowman. You make us proud to be Americans.

                          ____________________