[Congressional Record Volume 167, Number 87 (Wednesday, May 19, 2021)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E554]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




          RECOGNIZING THE RETIREMENT OF MRS. CHARLOTTE HODDER

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                          HON. DANNY K. DAVIS

                              of illinois

                    in the house of representatives

                        Wednesday, May 19, 2021

  Mr. DANNY K. DAVIS of Illinois. Madam Speaker, I rise to recognize 
Mrs. Charlotte Hodder on her retirement from the Centers for Medicare & 
Medicaid Services, where she was hired as a nurse consultant on 
February 5, 1995.
  Mrs. Hodder is a veteran of the United States Army, where she was a 
Specialist-E-4 from August 25, 1975 to January 22, 1980. Mrs. Hodder 
was in the Women's Army Corps, which in 1978 merged into the U..S. 
Army. They were the first female soldiers that had to qualify with a 
rifle. During basic training, she was assigned as a permanent Squad 
Leader. In this role, she was responsible for supervising, motivating 
and maintaining accountability and ensuring soldier readiness.
  Mrs. Hodder was trained in several areas, including Quartermaster or 
Warehouse Specialist, Audio Visual Specialist and Office Management 
Specialist. As a Quartermaster Specialist, she was trained to track, 
pack, and ship items that others needed. As an Audio-Visual Specialist, 
she was trained to track, pack, ship, and prepare training material 
that military units needed to train their personnel. She also 
maintained the equipment needed to show the training material on. As an 
Office Management Specialist, she was assigned overseas for two years. 
During these two years, she handled the Official Government Mail and 
encrypted messages for her base. She wrote the Operations Manual for 
how to handle the classified mail, encrypted messages, and personnel 
management. During her time as an Office Management Specialist, she was 
assigned to work in the Base Commander's building for most of her tour 
of duty. In addition, she was assigned as the main company clerk for 
the Supply Company for a few weeks. This involved ensuring that the 
company correspondence and any personnel concerns were continually 
being processed. The opportunity to spend two years overseas, enhanced 
her ability to adapt to adverse situations, communicate with others in 
an effective manner, and to be continually aware of cultural 
differences. She received an Army Commendation Medal for her 
exceptional contribution to their Mission.
  During her time in the Military, she was selected as Soldier of the 
Month in Fort Stewart, GA, and Camp Carroll, South Korea. This honor 
was received after stiff competition in front of Senior Military 
Enlisted soldiers. The competition involves presenting oneself in 
proper Military Uniform, answering several questions regarding the 
Military and current events. Her competition for Soldier of the Month 
at Ft. Stewart, GA consisted of Male Infantry Soldiers who had training 
for combat roles. The General, as the most senior management, of this 
base were quite impressed when she was selected.
  ``May the road rise to meet you, May the wind be always at your back, 
May the sun shine warm upon your face, The rains fall soft upon your 
fields and, Until we meet again, May God hold you in the palm of His 
hand.''

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