[Congressional Record Volume 167, Number 185 (Thursday, October 21, 2021)]
[House]
[Page H5731]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                              {time}  1015
                  HONORING THE SACRIFICES OF JOHN EADE

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The Chair recognizes the gentlewoman from 
Ohio (Ms. Kaptur) for 5 minutes.
  Ms. KAPTUR. Madam Speaker, I rise today to honor a great American 
soldier, Staff Sergeant John Eade, a native son of Toledo, Ohio, of 
whom our citizenry is very proud and eternally grateful.
  As our Nation approaches Veterans Day 2021, I enter into the 
Congressional Record the poignant story to honor John and his treasured 
colleagues for their superhuman valor. They are all heroes.
  John, as a highly wounded Vietnam veteran, persevered and led a 
distinguished life as an architect and chief of the city of Boston's 
inspection division.
  Our Nation must revere his lifelong valor in the face of overwhelming 
odds, terrible slaughter, and wounds endured from the deadliest single-
day battle in the Vietnam war.
  Sergeant Eade is held in the highest esteem by everyone who knows 
him. He is a trusted confidant, a faithful friend, a true patriot, and 
a very humble Purple Heart recipient. He would not seek that 
recognition for himself but would be thinking only of his comrades.
  In November 1965, John was deployed to Vietnam as a fire team leader 
in the ill-fated 2nd Platoon, Alpha Company, 2nd Battalion, 7th 
Cavalry, 1st Cavalry Division.
  On November 14, he and his team were sent as reinforcements to the 
Battle at Landing Zone X-Ray in the la Drang Valley made famous by the 
movie ``We Were Soldiers.''
  On the morning of November 17, Sergeant Eade and his small team were 
marching to Landing Zone Albany. Only minutes after arriving, two much 
larger North Vietnamese regiments ambushed his unit.
  As the North Vietnamese swarmed them through the trees, John's 
platoon was pinned down in ferocious hand-to-hand combat.
  Sergeant Eade quickly rallied three of the only remaining soldiers 
able to fight: Wilbert Johnson, Barry Burnite, and Oscar Barker, Jr. 
Together, they fought valiantly to hold their position against the 
attacking Vietnamese.
  Their plight was unfortunately short-lived. Burnite was struck in the 
chest by shrapnel, and Johnson pulled him to a position of cover to 
save him. The two men fought until Burnite died and Johnson was killed.
  As the fighting continued, John was shot multiple times and sprayed 
with shrapnel. Barker tended to John's wounds. The rest of the platoon 
had already been killed. John urged Barker to leave him and retreat, 
but Barker refused. Moments later, Barker was killed.
  Soon after, a napalm strike was dropped on John's position, leaving 
him severely burned. Weak, but still alive, John managed to roll in the 
dirt and extinguish the flames that had engulfed him, yet he continued 
his efforts to hold his position.
  That afternoon, John was surprised by enemy soldiers, shot in the 
face, and knocked unconscious.
  Despite the overwhelming odds and the horrific life-threatening 
wounds he had received, John refused to withdraw and continued exposing 
himself to the onslaught through the night, including throwing grenades 
with his remaining good arm. When dawn came, he was grievously wounded 
but remained alive.
  Three days later, he was discovered by a recovery unit and awarded 
the Purple Heart for his massive sacrifice for our Nation. I believe to 
my core John and several of the men in his platoon have not been 
appropriately recognized for their valor.
  It is for this reason I and my colleagues have nominated him for the 
Distinguished Service Cross.
  John is now 78. He has lived with severe injuries sustained in battle 
that impacted him throughout his life and are impacting him now.
  His reflections on life as a soldier and an American hero remain 
largely personal, but his valor endures. He is a soldier still, as he 
is now scaling another battle related to his wartime service.
  He is handling this with such dignity, resolve, and even good humor. 
One can observe the raw courage that those of us who know him have 
witnessed through his life.
  John, what a truly great soldier you are in the military and in life. 
America salutes you for your unyielding valor and for your deep 
patriotism.
  No matter the challenge, you and your life are the very definition of 
courage. May God bless you and your fallen comrades, for surely you 
have blessed America.

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