[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.
____________________