[Congressional Record Volume 167, Number 185 (Thursday, October 21, 2021)]
[House]
[Page H5734]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                              {time}  1045
                       HONORING COACH DOUG SMITH

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The Chair recognizes the gentleman from 
Virginia (Mr. Good) for 5 minutes.
  Mr. GOOD of Virginia. Madam Speaker, I rise to honor the leadership 
and perseverance of Appomattox County High School coach, Doug Smith.
  Doug Smith has led the Appomattox Raiders football team since 2012. 
Under his leadership, the team has boasted a 32-game winning streak, 
and won State championship titles in 2015, 2016, and 2017. While Coach 
Smith's record is amazing, his leadership extends well beyond the 
field.
  Coach Smith has truly united the community behind their team, as 
evidenced by the large groups on Friday nights. One cannot visit 
Appomattox County without seeing the impact Coach Smith has made on his 
students, his coworkers, and the community at large.
  Modeling by example, he has taught his student athletes to be 
productive citizens, such as when the team famously came out in full 
force to help those affected by the devastating tornado that hit 
Appomattox in 2016.
  However, Coach Smith is best known for his relationship with Jesus 
Christ, his eternal perspective, and his focus on those things that 
matter more than football. This has been most clearly displayed since 
the fall of 2020, as Coach Smith has faced a great personal challenge 
of his own with a diagnosis of multiple myeloma, a cancer of the plasma 
cells.
  He has been a tremendous testimony through this journey. Thankfully, 
it appears that the Lord has him on the road to recovery. My continued 
prayers are with Coach Smith as he continues to fight this terrible 
disease.
  I thank Coach Smith for his commitment to service and leadership. 
Coach Smith is an inspiration to us all about the importance of serving 
others, even through personal challenges.


Commemorating Sailors and Marines aboard USS ``Forrestal'' on July 29, 
                                  1967

  Mr. GOOD of Virginia. Madam Speaker, I rise to remember and express 
gratitude to the brave sailors and marines who were wounded or lost 
their lives fighting the catastrophic fire aboard the ship, the USS 
Forrestal.
  July 29, 2021, marked the 54th anniversary of one of the most tragic 
fires in U.S. naval history. On July 29, 1967, the USS Forrestal, which 
was supporting combat operations off the coast of Vietnam, was impacted 
by an accidental rocket that ignited a fire and triggered several bomb 
explosions on the flight deck.
  Sailors and marines on board, including several Virginians, bravely 
fought the fire for 18 hours. Despite the courageous efforts of the 
crew, 134 men died, 161 were wounded, and 21 aircraft were destroyed. 
Sadly, veterans wounded that day are still fighting their claims with 
the VA, such as my constituent, Mr. David Cephas Smith, of Vinton, 
Virginia. These heroes were not awarded the Purple Heart because their 
wounds did not occur during enemy combat, but their bravery still 
merits recognition.
  We are forever grateful for the service of veterans, like Mr. Smith, 
who were wounded or sacrificed their lives battling this fire aboard 
the USS Forrestal.

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