[Congressional Record Volume 164, Number 179 (Tuesday, November 13, 2018)]
[Senate]
[Pages S6910-S6911]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                  TRIBUTE TO SERGEANT BRENT PATTERSON

  Mr. CARDIN. Mr. President, today I wish to recognize SGT Brent 
Patterson of Frostburg, MD, for his outstanding service to our Nation. 
As a U.S. Army infantryman, Sergeant Patterson distinguished himself 
for his personal valor during the global war on terror while deployed 
in Iraq for 15 months as part of Operation Iraqi Freedom and in 
Afghanistan for 12 months as part of Operation Enduring Freedom. During 
his final deployment in Afghanistan's Charkh District, Sergeant 
Patterson was wounded on three separate occasions and was subsequently 
awarded three Purple Hearts.
  On December 9, 2010, Sergeant Patterson and his squad were attacked 
while operating a traffic control point in the Charkh Bazaar. With 
significant injuries from a grenade to his upper body and while under 
fire, Sergeant Patterson ignored his own safety in order to drag his 
severely wounded squad leader to safety and direct his remaining squad 
members into defensive positions. After first aid and medical transport 
had been arranged for his squad leader, Sergeant Patterson and three 
other members of his squad accompanied the transport on foot to their 
command outpost to provide protection against additional attacks. 
Having secured his squad leader and team at their command post, 
Sergeant Patterson was treated for his injuries and returned to his 
post the following day.

[[Page S6911]]

  On July 24, 2011, Sergeant Patterson and three members of his squad 
were conducting security at the Charkh Bazaar when an improvised 
explosive device detonated, collapsing the building in which they were 
positioned. As his platoon sergeant radioed for medical assistance, 
Sergeant Patterson conducted a search for the remaining members of the 
squad and administered first aid. He and two other members of his squad 
were medevac'd to Forward Operating Base Shank to receive treatment for 
traumatic brain injuries.
  On August 5, 2011, on Sergeant Patterson's second day back after 2 
weeks of treatment and observation for his injuries, he and his squad 
were again conducting security in the bazaar when a grenade was tossed 
into his position, landing on his shoulder and coming to rest near his 
back. The grenade detonated, resulting in significant injuries to 
Sergeant Patterson and three other members of his squad. Sergeant 
Patterson ignored the heavy bleeding from his own back and administered 
first aid to his platoon leader and provided assistance to medics 
treating the other wounded soldiers.
  Sergeant Patterson was admitted to Frostburg State University in 
western Maryland in 2016. He is on course to graduate next May with a 
bachelor's degree in materials engineering with a minor in math and 
physics. He continues to have significant pain from shrapnel in his 
back, arms, neck, and shoulder, but he refuses to take pain medication 
so he can remain focused like a laser beam on his studies. For his 
capstone course in engineering, Sergeant Patterson is the project 
leader on converting organic material--nanocellulose--from trees and 
turning it into a compound that is lighter and stronger than Kevlar for 
use in flak jackets and vests for law enforcement officers and military 
personnel. This project has been accepted for presentation at the 2018 
Materials Science and Technology Conference in Columbus, OH.
  This past Sunday was Veterans Day, and it was the 100th anniversary 
of the armistice which ended World War I. We owe so much to our 
servicemen and servicewomen, to our veterans, to those who gave ``the 
last full measure of devotion,'' and to their families. Repaying that 
debt begins with gratitude. I encourage my colleagues to join me in 
expressing the Senate's sincere appreciation to Sergeant Brent 
Patterson for his distinguished service to our Nation, our 
congratulations on his academic achievement, and our best wishes for 
his continued success.

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