[Congressional Record Volume 166, Number 159 (Tuesday, September 15, 2020)]
[House]
[Pages H4390-H4391]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                  HONORING SERGEANT MAJOR THOMAS PAYNE

  (Mr. WILSON of South Carolina asked and was given permission to 
address the House for 1 minute and to revise and extend his remarks.)
  Mr. WILSON of South Carolina. Mr. Speaker, all of America was 
grateful on Friday, the 19th anniversary of the September 11 attacks, 
to witness President Donald Trump present Sergeant Major Thomas Patrick 
Payne the military's highest honor for valor, the Medal of Honor.

[[Page H4391]]

  A native of South Carolina towns Batesburg-Leesville and Lugoff, 
Payne and Master Sergeant Joshua L. Wheeler with fellow Army Rangers in 
2015 helped rescue about 70 hostages set to be executed by the Islamic 
State terrorists in Iraq. The terrorists had dug mass graves to prepare 
for mass murder.
  Sadly, Sergeant Wheeler lost his life, but Payne, with Kurdish 
commandos, continued their multiple courageous assaults to cut the 
locks, free the hostages, and helicopter the hostages to freedom.
  In conclusion, God bless our troops, and we will never forget 
September the 11th in the global war on terrorism.

                          ____________________