[Congressional Record Volume 167, Number 36 (Thursday, February 25, 2021)]
[House]
[Page H627]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




            RECOGNIZING LIEUTENANT COMMANDER MICHAEL J. HALL

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The Chair recognizes the gentleman from Utah 
(Mr. Moore) for 5 minutes.
  Mr. MOORE of Utah. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor the 
contributions of Lieutenant Commander Michael J. Hall to his community, 
country, and the fight against COVID-19.
  Service to one's country is rarely convenient, particularly not for a 
father of four with a thriving orthopedic surgery practice. Yet, in 
September 2019, Dr. Hall overcame adversity to join the Navy Reserve at 
the age of 48.
  Earlier that year, one of Mike's boys showed interest in joining the 
Navy. A concerned father, Dr. Hall wanted to speak directly to the 
recruiter. By the end of the call, he inquired about joining himself.
  Just 6 months after his commissioning, Dr. Hall was given 36 hours' 
notice to voluntarily deploy to hard-hit New York City, wearing the 
only uniform he had without having even completed his basic officer 
training.
  While many of us were scrambling to buy toilet paper, Dr. Hall fought 
an unknown virus in a makeshift ICU unit with dozens of intubated 
patients.
  Now a seasoned veteran of this pandemic with a deployment under his 
belt, Dr. Hall is finally attending his basic officer training. No 
amount of instruction can teach the qualities that Mike Hall already 
personifies: honor, courage, and commitment, not when it was 
convenient, but when it mattered most.
  Inspired by his father, Mike's son has now also joined the military, 
building on a new family vision formed in a makeshift ICU ward during a 
very dark spring in New York City.
  Dr. Hall, I thank you for your service, and Mrs. Hall, I thank you 
even more for your service. You have made Ogden proud.

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