[Congressional Record Volume 167, Number 82 (Wednesday, May 12, 2021)]
[House]
[Pages H2207-H2208]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                    HONORING DONALD KEITH STRICKLAND

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The Chair recognizes the gentleman from West 
Virginia (Mr. Mooney) for 5 minutes.
  Mr. MOONEY. Mr. Speaker, I rise to commemorate the life of Sergeant 
First Class Donald Keith Strickland, who recently passed away. Donald's 
favorite quote was: ``My proudest accomplishment was defending our 
great Nation.''
  Sergeant First Class Donald Keith Strickland was born on May 31, 
1934, to George and Ruth Strickland in Richmond, Indiana. The 
Stricklands moved out to California for a better life, as many did back 
in those days.
  Young Donald grew up in the San Fernando Valley and had many 
different jobs, from working at his family's grocery store to doing a 
paper route on his horse called Star Baby.
  While attending high school, Donald had a call to duty and joined the 
Navy on his 17th birthday. Donald's father had to sign papers in order 
to release him to enlist for the Korean war. While in Korea, he served 
on the famed aircraft carriers USS Yorktown and USS Hornet. After the 
Korean war and 3 years in the Navy, Donald decided to join the Army, 
where he spent the next 18 years of his life.
  Donald did his basic training at Fort Bragg. During Donald's first 
jump after training, his parachute did not open until he almost hit the 
ground. As he tells the story: ``I was the last one out of the plane 
and the first one down.''
  During Donald's time in the Army, he was stationed in West Germany, 
where he met the love of his life, Antonie, and they have been married 
for over 60 years.
  Donald was sent off to the Vietnam war, where he served two tours of 
duty and was awarded the Bronze Star for bravery in action during the 
Tet Offensive. Donald rose to the rank of sergeant first class.
  After getting injured in the war, Donald became a drill sergeant at 
Fort Ord Army Base in Monterey, California. As his kids tell their 
friends, imagine having a drill sergeant for a dad.
  In reminiscing with his children, Donald was always proud to be 
called a soldier for America. Donald considered the United States of 
America the greatest country in the world.
  In 1973, Donald retired from the armed services and relocated to Simi 
Valley, California, where he worked for the police department.
  Donald loved working with his hands and could fix anything. Donald 
never had a negative comment about anyone, and any person who knew him 
loved him for his hard work and his smile. Donald's commitment was 
resounding, as he did not retire until the age of 75.
  Donald is survived by his wife, Antonie; his children, Gabriele, 
Rene, and Anthony; his grandchildren, Jacob, Samantha, Natasha, 
Alexandra, Ruby, and Anthony; and his great-grandchildren, Wyatt, 
Kayla, Sophia, and Bryce.
  Donald had been a resident of Ventura County since 1973 and resided 
in Camarillo since 2000 with his wife for the remainder of his life.
  Mr. Speaker, I include in the Record a tribute to Donald Strickland.

                      SFC Donald Keith Strickland

                  May 31, 1934-April 29, 2021 (age 86)


                                tribute

``My proudest accomplishment was defending our great nation.''--Donald 
                             K. Strickland

       Sergeant First Class, Donald Keith Strickland was born May 
     31, 1934 to George and Ruth Strickland in Richmond, Indiana. 
     The Strickland's moved out to California for a better life 
     like many did back in those days. Young Donald grew up in the 
     San Fernando Valley and had many different jobs from working 
     at his family's grocery store, to doing a paper route down 
     Sepulveda Blvd on his horse ``Star Baby.''
       While attending San Fernando Valley High School, Donald had 
     a call to duty and joined the Navy on his 17th Birthday. His 
     father had to sign papers in order to release him to enlist 
     for the Korean War. While in Korea, Donald served on the 
     famed aircraft carriers USS Yorktown and USS Hornet. After 
     the Korean War and three years in the Navy, Donald decided to 
     join the Army of which he spent the next 18 years of his 
     life.
       Donald did his basic training at Fort Brag, North Carolina 
     and joined the legendary 82nd Airborne. During his first jump 
     after training, Donald's parachute did not open until he 
     almost hit ground. As he tells the story, ``I was the last 
     one out of the plane and the first one down.'' Not 
     discouraged, his commanding officer sent him right back up 
     with no hesitation on Donald's part. He loved jumping out of 
     airplanes.
       During his time in the Army, Donald was stationed in West 
     Germany where he met the love of his life, Antonie, and have 
     been married over 60 years. Donald was then sent off to the 
     Vietnam War where he served two tours of duty and was awarded 
     the Bronze Star for bravery in action during the Tet 
     Offensive. Donald rose to the rank of Sergeant First Class as 
     a non-commissioned officer and received many medals and 
     awards.
       After getting injured in the war, Donald became a drill 
     sergeant at Fort Ord Army Base in Monterey, California. As 
     his kids tell their friends, imagine having a drill sergeant 
     for a dad. In reminiscing with his children; he always was 
     proud to be called a soldier. He considered the United States 
     of America the greatest country in the world.
       In 1973, Donald retired from the armed services and 
     relocated to Simi Valley, California. He briefly worked for 
     the Simi Valley Police department and later went on to be 
     facilities manager for a number of Convalescent and Hospital 
     locations throughout Ventura County. He loved working with 
     his hands and could fix anything. He never had a negative 
     comment about anyone and any person who knew him loved him 
     for his hard work and smile. His commitment was resounding as 
     he did not retire until the age of 75,
       He is survived by his wife, Antonie; his children, 
     Gabriele, Rene and Anthony; his grandchildren, Jacob, 
     Samantha, Natasha, Alexandra, Ruby and Anthony; and his great 
     grandchildren, Wyatt, Kayla, Sophia and Bryce.
       Donald has been a resident of Ventura County since 1973 and 
     resided in Camarillo since 2000 with his wife for the 
     remainder of his life.
       A Funeral Service was held on Sat, May 8, 2021 at 11:00 am 
     at the Chapel of the Hills at Conejo Mountain Memorial Park: 
     2052 Howard Rd, Camarillo, California 93012, with interment 
     to follow, also at Conejo Mountain.


                      The Army Goes Rolling Along

                                 Verse:

     March along, sing our song, with the Army of the free
     Count the brave, count the true, who have fought to victory
     We're the Army and proud of our name
     We're the Army and proudly proclaim

                                Chorus:

     First to fight for the right,
     And to build the Nation's might,
     And The Army Goes Rolling Along
     Proud of all we have done,
     Fighting till the battle's won,
     And the Army Goes Rolling Along.

                                Refrain:

     Then it's Hi! Hi! Hey!
     The Army's on its way.
     Count off the cadence loud and strong
     For where e'er we go,
     You will always know
     That The Army Goes Rolling Along.

                                 Verse:

     Valley Forge, Custer's ranks,

[[Page H2208]]

     San Juan Hill and Patton's tanks,
     And the Army went rolling along
     Minutemen, from the start,
     Always fighting from the heart,
     And the Army keeps rolling along.

                               (Refrain)

                                 Verse:

     Men in rags, men who froze,
     Still that Army met its foes,
     And the Army went rolling along.
     Faith in God, then we're right,
     And we'll fight with all our might,
     As the Army keeps rolling along.

                          ____________________