[Congressional Record Volume 168, Number 8 (Wednesday, January 12, 2022)]
[Senate]
[Page S185]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]



         Tribute to Staff Sergeant John ``Big John'' Quintrell

  Mr. DAINES. Mr. President, today, I have the distinct honor of 
recognizing John ``Big John'' Quintrell of Helena, MT, for bravely 
serving our Nation during the Vietnam war and for his dedication to 
supporting the heroes who fought alongside him.
  John served honorably in Vietnam from 1968 to 1969 with the 
Wolfhounds. I understand there are some Wolfhounds watching tonight. 
The Wolfhounds are the 2nd Battalion, 27th Infantry Regiment, 25th 
Infantry Division. And he received honors, including the Bronze Star 
with Valor and the Purple Heart.
  Upon returning home, John was met with hostility and was shamed for 
his sacrifice in Vietnam by his fellow Americans. For the next 35 
years, John, like so many of our veterans, kept that pain to himself.
  In 2004, John opened a box--a box filled with items that brought back 
memories of Vietnam--and he was inspired to host a reunion for his 
fellow Vietnam veterans.
  For the very first time in over 35 years, these men were reunited. 
John's reunion gave these often-forgotten heroes a sense of peace, a 
sense of acceptance, friendship, and healing. And following that 
successful reunion, John and the other Wolfhounds were on a mission to 
find others who served beside them.
  And since 2004, John has connected with over 125 Wolfhounds, and many 
have attended 1 of the 9 reunions John planned. After hearing John's 
story, his children and grandchildren worked to keep these reunions 
going and the legacy alive.
  John's support for his fellow Wolfhounds extends far beyond the 
reunions he planned. In 2018, John decided to document the stories of 
the Wolfhounds and their time in Vietnam. To date, John has conducted 
over 90--90--video interviews, and because of John's work, future 
generations will have the opportunity to hear their relatives' 
firsthand account of service in Vietnam.
  John decided to share his own story by publishing a book entitled 
``My 365 Days With the Wolfhounds in Vietnam,'' and he did that in 
2021.
  John's honest account of his experience in the Vietnam war has given 
countless veterans and their family members a sense of understanding, 
as well as healing. After years of suppressing memories of his time in 
Vietnam, John now shares his story. He shares his story with others and 
encourages them to share their own experience and find their own path 
to healing.
  A big thanks to John's passion, and because of his dedication in 
supporting his fellow veterans, many soldiers are once again proud of 
their sacrifice to our great Nation. You see, John epitomizes the heart 
of a Montana veteran, whose selfless service has reached far beyond the 
battlefield. So I want to thank John. I want to thank John for his 
service to our great country and for the kindness he has shown to the 
heroes who served alongside him.
  John, keep up the great work because you make Montana proud, and you 
make America proud.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. The Senator from Oklahoma.