[Congressional Record Volume 165, Number 196 (Monday, December 9, 2019)]
[House]
[Page H9383]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




              RECOGNIZING VETERAN OF THE MONTH JOHN THIES

  (Mr. SPANO asked and was given permission to address the House for 1 
minute.)
  Mr. SPANO. Madam Speaker, I rise today to bring recognition to 30-
year U.S. Army veteran Sergeant Major John Thies.
  During his three decades of service to our Nation, mostly as a 
Special Forces Green Beret, he faced combat operations in Panama, 
Kuwait, Iraq, and Afghanistan.
  Among the many highlights of his illustrious career was his 
participation with the third Operational Detachment Alpha to infiltrate 
Afghanistan following the attacks on September 11, 2001.
  As a servicemember in all of these conflicts, John and his fellow 
warriors helped to bring down dictators, defeat insurgencies, and 
create conditions for the establishment of democracy. More importantly, 
his sacrifices brought hope to the suffering and peace to those in need 
of relief.
  I believe Sergeant Major Thies' former commanders and peers 
summarized his career and impact well in sharing that he was one of the 
finest noncommissioned officers they had ever served with. That is high 
praise from our Nation's finest.

  Madam Speaker, I thank John. I thank him for putting us before 
himself. We and our families slept better knowing he was on alert.

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