[Congressional Record Volume 166, Number 3 (Tuesday, January 7, 2020)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E3-E4]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




           IN RECOGNITION OF SOC (SEAL) EDWARD GALLAGHER, USN

                                 ______
                                 

                           HON. DUNCAN HUNTER

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                        Tuesday, January 7, 2020

  Mr. HUNTER. Madam Speaker, since the inception of our great Nation, 
our freedoms were conceived and protected by those willing to defend it 
with their own blood. It is in the spirit of those warriors that I rise 
today, to celebrate 20 years of distinguished and faithful military 
service by one of the greatest warriors our Country has ever known, 
Special Operations Chief Petty Officer (SEAL) Edward Gallagher, USN.
   In 1999, Gallagher enlisted into the United States Navy from Fort 
Wayne, Indiana, graduating from Basic Training at Navy Recruit Training 
Command Great Lakes, Illinois. After successfully completing Navy 
Hospital Corpsman ``A'' school in 2000, he was assigned to 1st 
Battalion, 8th Marines Company, 2nd Marine Division in Camp Lejeune, 
North Carolina. He also graduated from the Marines Corps Scout Sniper 
Course in 2002. While assigned to the Marine Corps, Gallagher completed 
two deployments that included service in Africa, Albania, Iraq and 
Kosovo.
   Always desiring to push himself beyond the normal limits of others, 
Gallagher joined Basic Underwater Demolition/SEAL (BUD/S) class 252 in 
2005 for 24 weeks of arduous training. After BUD/S, he immediately 
attended SEAL Qualification Training and Special Operations Combat 
Medic Course. Upon completion of those courses, Gallagher earned his 
Navy SEAL Trident and was selected to be stationed at SEAL Team ONE. 
Later, he was hand chosen to train new SEAL candidates as a BUD/S 
Instructor at Naval Special Warfare Center. This was followed by orders 
to be stationed at SEAL Team SEVEN, where he was promoted to the rank 
of Chief Petty Officer. For his service in the Naval Special Warfare 
community he has received two Bronze Stars with ``V'' for Valor, a Navy 
and Marine Corps Commendation Medal, three Navy and Marine Corps 
Achievement Medals with ``V'' for Valor, a Global War on Terrorism 
Expeditionary Medal and a Combat Action Ribbon.
   In 2017, Chief Gallagher returned home after completing his eighth 
combat deployment. Instead of receiving a hero's welcome, he became the 
target of a tyrannical witch-hunt. This witch-hunt was led by a few 
junior SEALs, a completely incompetent NCIS Agent and Navy Judge 
Advocate General (JAG) lawyers that were hoping to make their careers 
off court-martialing Gallagher. Despite the numerous illegal and 
underhanded tactics by the prosecution, Chief Gallagher was found not 
guilty of all major charges by a jury of his peers on July 1, 2019. 
Later, President Donald Trump personally intervened to stop the Navy's 
harassment towards Gallagher and restored his rank to Chief Petty 
Officer. Realizing the poor treatment and errors that they had made, 
the United States Navy allowed Chief Gallagher to officially retire on 
November 30, 2019.
   While no one could blame Chief Gallagher if he was angry about the 
horrible manner in which he was treated at the end of his career, he 
instead has decided to live free of anger and has forgiven the 
individuals who have wronged him. I believe this is due to Eddie's 
faith in God and an amazing woman that keeps him grounded, his loving 
wife, Andrea. She and their three beautiful children, Treven, Ava and 
Ryan, have faithfully supported Eddie throughout his numerous 
deployments and were his biggest advocates during the Navy's foolish 
witch-hunt. Their love along with his brother, Sean Gallagher, and his 
parents, Lieutenant Colonel (Retired) Joseph and Melissa Gallagher have 
strengthened Eddie throughout his military service; and I congratulate 
them as well on this special occasion. I

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am proud to share in the celebration of Special Operations Chief Petty 
Officer (SEAL) Edward Gallagher's military career and as he and his 
family step into the next chapter of their lives, I ask my colleagues 
in this chamber to join me in wishing the Gallagher family fair winds 
and following seas.

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