[Congressional Record Volume 167, Number 163 (Tuesday, September 21, 2021)]
[House]
[Page H4564]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                    ARMY STAFF SERGEANT RYAN KNAUSS

  (Mr. BURCHETT asked and was given permission to address the House for 
1 minute and to revise and extend his remarks.)
  Mr. BURCHETT. Mr. Speaker, this is a photo of United States Army 
Staff Sergeant Ryan Knauss. He was one of the 13 servicemembers killed 
outside the Kabul Airport on August 26.
  Staff Sergeant Knauss grew up where I live in Corryton, Tennessee. He 
always dreamed of joining the American military and did so after 
graduating from Gibbs High School.
  When the Taliban rapidly took control of Afghanistan last month, it 
created a dangerous situation for American citizens and our allies in 
the country. In response, our military ramped up its presence at Hamid 
Karzai International Airport to assist with the evacuation efforts. 
Staff Sergeant Knauss, who previously served a 9-month deployment in 
Afghanistan, volunteered to go back for this mission.
  Outside that airport was where Staff Sergeant Knauss would selflessly 
give his life so civilians could escape to safety. He was there helping 
complete strangers, but this wasn't out of character for him. He loved 
helping people, and he died doing it.
  Following his death, Staff Sergeant Knauss returned home to east 
Tennessee for a memorial service on September 11. Hundreds from our 
community lined the procession route in honor of his heroism. And this 
afternoon, at Arlington National Cemetery, Staff Sergeant Knauss was 
laid to rest.
  Look one more time at this picture behind me. This is what a true 
American hero looks like. It is not somebody who dribbles a basketball 
or hits a baseball or throws a football or acts or sings on stage. 
Remember the last American military casualty from the war in 
Afghanistan. Remember Staff Sergeant Ryan Knauss.

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