[Congressional Record Volume 165, Number 29 (Thursday, February 14, 2019)]
[House]
[Page H2006]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




         HONORING THE LIFE OF CHIEF PETTY OFFICER SHANNON KENT

  (Mr. DELGADO asked and was given permission to address the House for 
1 minute.)
  Mr. DELGADO. Mr. Speaker, today I rise to honor the life of Chief 
Petty Officer Shannon Kent, a true hero from Pine Plains, New York, who 
tragically lost her life in service to this country on January 16, 
2019, in Syria.
  Chief Kent was 35 years old and is survived by her husband, a retired 
member of the Army, and her two young sons.
  After graduating with honors from Stissing Mountain High School on 
December 11, 2003, Chief Kent enlisted in the United States Navy, where 
she quickly rose through the ranks and served as a member of the Navy's 
Cryptologic Warfare Unit.
  Chief Kent was fluent in five different languages and six dialects of 
Arabic and was one of the first women to complete the rigorous course 
required for troops to accompany Navy SEALs on raids.
  Chief Kent could run a marathon in 3 hours 30 minutes, do a dozen 
full-arm-hang pull-ups, and then march for miles with a 50-pound 
rucksack--amazing.
  A cancer survivor, Chief Kent had assignments in Iraq, Afghanistan, 
and, finally, Syria. Just 1 month into her deployment, Chief Kent was 
killed by a suicide bomber.
  A recipient of the Purple Heart and the Bronze Star, Chief Kent gave 
the ultimate sacrifice in service to our country and will be remembered 
for her courage and determination.

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