[Congressional Record Volume 165, Number 142 (Friday, September 6, 2019)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1098]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




 HONORING WILLIAM ``DOC'' SCHMITZ, NATIONAL COMMANDER-IN-CHIEF OF THE 
             VETERANS OF FOREIGN WARS OF THE UNITED STATES

                                 ______
                                 

                             HON. TOM REED

                              of new york

                    in the house of representatives

                       Friday, September 6, 2019

  Mr. REED. Madam Speaker, today I rise to honor National Commander-in-
Chief of the Veterans of Foreign Wars of the United States, William 
``Doc'' Schmitz.
  Doc was elected to this prestigious and well-deserved post on July 
24, 2019. Helping and advocating for Veterans is not an uncommon 
practice for Doc, but rather a continuation of the work he does each 
and every day. His unwavering dedication to his country and the 
Veterans he serves is one of the many traits I admire most about him.
  While Doc currently serves Veterans, he has also served his country 
well over the years. Doc was in the United States Navy from 1966 to 
1970, during the Vietnam War. During that time, he served as a Navy 
Corpsman attached to the Marine Corp in Vietnam. In recognition of his 
efforts, he received the National Defense Service Medal, Vietnam 
Service Medal and the Republic of Vietnam Campaign Medal.
  Doc does not allow politics to get in the way of serving Veterans, 
which is another thing I admire. He doesn't look at their qualifiers or 
whether they fit a certain criteria, but rather helps people simply and 
solely to help them. Previously, he worked for a Democratic 
Congressman, but decided to stay on in my office because of his 
commitment to the cause.
  Doc is my resource for all things Veteran related and he contacts me 
personally with any information on local, state and national Veterans' 
issues. He is a venerable source of information and experience that I 
rely on and trust deeply.
  I cannot think of a better National Commander-in-Chief than the one 
we are honoring today. We can all be assured that the man leading this 
national organization has Veterans' needs as a first priority and he 
will fight to make sure they are well taken care of. Congratulations to 
you, Doc, for this new position--and I thank you for all that you have 
done and will do in the future. I know that Veterans everywhere have 
just gained a staunch defender, a wise leader and a genuinely honorable 
and good man with you as their Commander-in-Chief.
  Given the above, I ask that this Legislative Body pause in its 
deliberations and join me to honor National Commander-in-Chief of the 
Veterans of Foreign Wars of the United States, William ``Doc'' Schmitz.

                          ____________________