[Congressional Record Volume 165, Number 85 (Tuesday, May 21, 2019)]
[Senate]
[Pages S3001-S3002]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




TRIBUTE TO WEST VIRGINIA'S HEROES AND RECOGNIZING THE ALWAYS FREE HONOR 
                             FLIGHT NETWORK

   Mr. MANCHIN. Madam President, today I am incredibly honored to rise 
and recognize a group of 23 heroic military veterans who will travel 
from West Virginia this week to visit our Nation's Capital as part of 
the 10th Always Free Honor Flight. On the occasion of their visit, in 
which they will see for the first time the monuments built in their 
honor, I want to express my utmost gratitude to these special men and 
women for their extraordinary bravery and patriotism and for their 
noble sacrifice to help keep our country free.
  I have said this time and time again: West Virginia is one of the 
most patriotic States in this great Nation. With one of our country's 
highest per capita rates of military servicemembers and veterans, West 
Virginia is undoubtedly one of our Nation's most patriotic States. 
According to the Department of Defense, West Virginia had the highest 
casualty rate in the Nation during the Vietnam war, and I am so proud 
that the Honor Flight will allow these West Virginia veterans to pay 
homage to their brethren at the Vietnam Wall. The 31 veterans 
participating in this week's Always Free Honor Flight truly embody the 
Mountain State's history and contributions to the safeguarding of our 
American freedoms.
  Our special West Virginians visiting this week represent warriors 
from 23 to 93 years old and have traveled from all parts of our great 
State, from Beckley to Bluefield, Princeton to Cottageville, and many 
places in between. In addition to our Mountain State veterans, six 
veterans from Virginia and one veteran from Florida will be 
accompanying their West Virginia neighbors on the day-long adventure. 
Of the patriots attending, one served in World War II, two served in 
the Korean war, 10 served in the Vietnam war, one in Vietnam and Desert 
Storm, one served in the Cold war, one served in Desert Storm and the 
Gulf war, two served in the war in Afghanistan, and many others served 
between wars.
  I would especially like to recognize our World War II veteran who 
will be on this honor flight--93-year-old Allen K. Walker who now lives 
in Beckley but is originally from the Mississippi Delta. He joined the 
Navy in Rosedale, MS, in 1944. He served as a seaman first class 
stationed in Pearl Harbor, HI. Allen is a member of our Nation's 
Greatest Generation, and their sacrifices and valor embody American 
patriotism. They fought in such a pivotal war, in an era that 
threatened our existence as a Nation. Unfortunately, as the years go 
by, we are losing so many of our World War II veterans, and we must 
show them our utmost gratitude each and every day.
  As I mentioned, we will also be joined by veterans of the Korean, 
Vietnam, Cold, and Gulf wars. They engaged in combat all over the 
world. They were Humvee mechanics, military police officers, and radio 
operators.
  Two of our proud veterans here today served in the Korean war. One is 
86-year-old Corporal Paul Clifford Lathey from Cottageville, WV. He 
joined the Army in 1953 in Ripley, WV. During his time in Korea, he 
served in the 15th Infantry, 3rd Division Fox Company, where he treated 
wounded soldiers in MASH units. Our other Korean war veteran is 90-
year-old Sergeant David Shirley Knapp, who was in the Army from 1948-
1954 and served as a combat engineer during the Korean war.
  Another veteran is Charlie R. Lambert from Iaegar, WV, who served in 
a variety of roles during the Vietnam war. After he joined the Navy in 
1970, he served in a ``boots on the ground'' role in Thailand, served 
on the flight deck of the USS Iwo Jima, and volunteered to be a member 
of the Brown Water Navy or the forces that patrol shallow inland 
waterways, seizing contraband and engaging with the enemy. Another 
brave West Virginian who served in Vietnam is Sergeant Robert Ortiz, 
from Premier, WV, who served as an infantryman in the 196th Light 
Infantry Brigade, 23rd Infantry Division Americal.
  We also have two veterans who served in two wars, both from Virginia. 
Sergeant Jackie Thornton of Narrows, VA, who served in the Army during 
both the Vietnam and Desert Storm wars, as the chaplain's assistant, as 
well as, Sergeant Steven R. Mitchell of Bluefield, VA, who served in 
the Army in both Operation Desert Shield/Storm and the Gulf war.
  I would like to also specifically honor the youngest veteran we have 
with us today, Sergeant Austin Patrick Coleman of Bluefield, WV. He 
joined the Marines in Houston, TX, and served his country in Helmand 
Province Afghanistan as an infantryman, assisting the Afghanistan 
National Army. Another veteran of the war in Afghanistan here today is 
Michael ``Doc'' Atwell of Princeton, WV. Doc served in the Navy at Camp 
Dwyer in the Helmand Province. He was attached to the 1st Tank 
Battalion RCT7 as a FMF corpsman.
  Showing our appreciation to those who have served is something that 
we should do each and every day, but today is a special day to pay 
tribute and thank those who have volunteered to put their lives on the 
line for our freedoms. The memorials our honor flight participants will 
visit today serve as an important reminder to us all that our freedoms 
and liberties come at a steep cost. However, I know our veterans will 
find special meaning and potentially long-lost emotions when they tour 
such touching sites.
  This week's honor flight and the continued support of our veterans 
would not be possible without the dedication of so many volunteers and 
caregivers. I would like to thank Theresa Riggs, the JROTC Cadet from 
Montcalm High

[[Page S3002]]

School, as well as the military spouses and other family members 
serving as the guardians on this year's honor flight. These guardians 
have selflessly given their time to travel alongside our veterans all 
the way from Princeton, WV, to Washington, DC, to share this very 
special journey with them.
  I also commend those in the Always Free Honor Flight Network for 
their dedication to providing our veterans with such a unique and 
meaningful experience. Without the diligence and passion Dreama of 
Denver, president of Always Free Honor Flight Network and owner of 
Princeton, WV's, Little Buddy Radio, as well as Pam Coulbourne, the 
coordinator of these flights, many of our veterans would never have the 
opportunity to travel to Washington and pay homage to the men and women 
they fought beside. Dreama and Pam launched the Always Free Honor 
Flight in 2012, and every year, they continue to make this dream a 
reality for many of our West Virginia veterans.
  I would also like to recognize Sergeant First Class Paul Dorsey, vice 
president of Always Free Honor Flight and official photographer Steve 
Coleman, who have done a tremendous job of ensuring that our veterans 
receive the recognition they deserve. Dreama, Pam, and Steve have also 
dedicated themselves to the Denver Foundation, serving as incredible 
examples of how individuals can give back to their communities.
  I am filled with pride every time I meet the patriots who have served 
our country, and I am so pleased to welcome West Virginia's most 
courageous veterans, who are all heroes, to Washington, DC. I encourage 
all of my colleagues to join me in saluting them. They truly inspire us 
all as we are reminded of their selfless service. It is because of 
their bravery that all Americans enjoy the greatest liberties and 
freedoms in the world.
  God bless all our servicemembers and veterans, God bless the great 
State of West Virginia, and God bless the United States of America.

                          ____________________