[Congressional Record Volume 164, Number 171 (Tuesday, October 16, 2018)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1412]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]





 GREEN BERET SERGEANT FIRST CLASS CALVIN B. HARRISON COLDSPRING, TEXAS

                                 ______
                                 

                              HON. TED POE

                                of texas

                    in the house of representatives

                       Tuesday, October 16, 2018

  Mr. POE of Texas. Mr. Speaker, the Green Berets are a special type of 
soldier. You have to be the best of the best: smart, tough, and an 
almost supernatural strength of will. Their qualification and training 
process is the toughest in the business--not just anyone can be a Green 
Beret. Everything is tested, from your language ability to physical 
fitness to your most basic but most difficult task: survival. They push 
you to your max and when you are just about to break, they push you 
harder. The training is so hard because they know what you are going to 
face: impossible, top-secret missions that must be done. But when you 
get through it all you have a physical and mental toughness that can 
survive even the most extreme conditions. You are not just a soldier--
you are a true warrior.
  That's what Sergeant First Class Calvin B. Harrison was: a true 
warrior. Harrison's awards and decorations include the Purple Heart, 
the Meritorious Service Medal, Bronze Star Medal, Army Commendation 
Medal, two Army Achievement Medals, Army Good Conduct Medal, National 
Defense Service Medal, Kosovo Campaign Medal, Afghanistan Campaign 
Medal, the Iraq Campaign Medal, the Global War on Terrorism 
Expeditionary Medal, the Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, 
Noncommissioned Officer Professional Development Ribbon with numeral 
three, Army Service Ribbon, Special Forces Tab, Combat Infantryman 
Badge and Parachutist Badge.
  Born in the small town of Coldspring, Texas, on March 11, 1979, 
Calvin had a big heart from a young age. He was always looking out for 
other people, trying to do what was right to the best of his ability. 
The son of Jack Washington and Betty Harrison, he was the 4th of 6 
kids. His siblings are Demetric, Diane, Debra, Stephanie, and 
Zacchaeus.
  He was also a relentlessly hard-worker. When he was a child, he 
helped his grandfather do yard work around town. His grandfather even 
taught him to drive. He was close to his family and loved them very 
much. One day, when Calvin was working at Country Groceries, a customer 
walked in, looked him right in the eye and said ``You're never gonna be 
nothin.'' Calvin would remember that moment the rest of his life, even 
recalling to his dad the last time he was home.
  In high school, Calvin turned his work ethic toward sports. He was an 
all-around athlete, playing basketball, football, and tennis. When he 
graduated in 1998, he followed in his grandfather's footsteps and 
signed up for the Army. He loved being a soldier, said his father, Jack 
Washington. He was a true patriot who wanted to serve his country.
  In 2007, Sgt. Harrison became a Green Beret. His 7th Special Forces 
Group was very close. They had all gone through the same rigorous 
training and knew that when their lives depended on it, they could 
trust each other.
  Each team member had a role. For Sgt. Harrison, this was Medical 
Sergeant. Special Forces Medical Sergeants are considered to be the 
finest first-response medical technicians in the world. When his fellow 
soldier went down, it was Sgt. Harrison that jumped to his rescue. His 
comrades knew at a very practical level that their lives were in his 
hands.
  The Green Beret motto is ``De oppresso liber'' which means to 
liberate the oppressed. That is exactly what Sgt. Harrison was doing as 
a part of the Company A, 2nd Battalion, 7th Special Forces Group 
(Airborne) in Afghanistan. Sgt. Harrison couldn't talk too much about 
his top secret job, but he didn't mind. He was never one to talk about 
himself too much. He just did it. It wasn't special to him. He just did 
the best he could with everything he tried.
  It was his second tour and mission that Sgt. Harrison would give his 
life for. He was killed by small arms fire on September 29, 2010 in 
Uruzgan province in Afghanistan.
  ``He died what he loved doing.'' said his father. ``I'm very proud of 
him, and I told him that all the time.'' Sgt. Harrison left behind two 
precious daughters, Azalia and Eleanna.
  David Lloyd George, a former British Prime Minister, once said, ``The 
stern hand of fate has scourged us to an elevation where we can see the 
great everlasting things that matter for a nation; the great peaks of 
honor we had forgotten--duty and patriotism, clad in glittering white; 
the great pinnacle of sacrifice pointing like a rugged finger to 
heaven.'' Sgt. Harrison climbed up both of those peaks--honor and 
duty--and now we can look up to heaven with gratitude and thanks for 
his eternal reminder that freedom is not free. Texas is proud to have 
called him a soldier, a son, and a hero.
  And that's just the way it is.

                          ____________________