[Congressional Record Volume 168, Number 28 (Friday, February 11, 2022)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E140]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




        HONORING BUILDER NAVY CHIEF PETTY OFFICER RAYMOND BORDER

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                         HON. STEVEN M. PALAZZO

                             of mississippi

                    in the house of representatives

                       Friday, February 11, 2022

  Mr. PALAZZO. Madam Speaker, I rise today to recognize the official 
renaming of the Gulfport Fitness Center in honor of Builder Chief Petty 
Officer Raymond Border.
  Raymond Border was born on July 22, 1980, in Coshocton, Ohio. He 
enlisted in the Navy on September 22, 1999. Upon completion of Builder 
A-school Gulfport, MS BUC Border completed successful tours deploying 
twice with Naval Mobile Construction Battalion ONE. His daughter, 
Shelva Border and son Donavan Border currently still live in Gulfport. 
His father Craig Border and mother Julie Border live in West Lafayette, 
Ohio.
  A few months after returning home from deployment in 2011 to 
Afghanistan's Helmand Province with Naval Mobile Construction Battalion 
74 BUC Border volunteered for an Individual Augmentee billet on a 
Provincial Reconstruction Team and returned to Afghanistan, where he 
lost his life in the line of duty.
  For his outstanding service, BUC Border was posthumously awarded the 
Bronze Star (with combat V), Purple Heart, and Combat Action Ribbon. He 
was awarded the Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medal and the Navy 
Commendation Medal during his previous naval service.
  Traditionally Seabee facilities are named after Seabees that have 
paid the ultimate sacrifice in the service of their country. BUC Border 
was killed when an improvised explosive device detonated while he was 
executing a road assessment for a convoy in Paktika Province, 
Afghanistan, on October 19, 2011.
  BUC Border perfectly embodies what it means to be a true American 
hero and I can think of no better fit than BUC Raymond J. Border the 
first Seabee, and first Chief Petty Officer from the Seabee Fleet 
Concentration Area in Gulfport to receive this distinct honor.
  His memory proudly represents all Seabees that deployed to 
Afghanistan and made the ultimate sacrifice in service to our country. 
Our military servicemembers deserve to be recognized for their 
commitment to our great nation and I am grateful for his unwavering 
dedication to our country. The naming of the Fitness Center will allow 
the Seabees to be able to permanently remember and honor one of their 
fallen Seabees and Chief Petty Officers.

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