[Congressional Record Volume 168, Number 61 (Wednesday, April 6, 2022)]
[Senate]
[Pages S2037-S2038]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                    TRIBUTE TO DAVID MICHAEL THOMAS

 Mr. PAUL. Mr. President, while it is not possible to 
specifically recognize every Vietnam veteran who honorably served our 
Nation, each time we celebrate one, we also focus our attention on 
thousands of others, many of whom lost their lives decades ago.
  Today, I want to honor David Michael Thomas, who followed in the 
footsteps of his own father, Glenn Elmore Thomas, a personal bodyguard 
for Dwight D. Eisenhower, and joined the U.S. Army in 1970. Specialist 
Thomas was stationed outside the Tan Son Nhut Air Field with the 519th 
Military Intelligence Battalion, 525th Military Intelligence Group for 
2 years. He received the National Defense Service Medal, the Vietnam 
Service Medal with 2 Stars, Vietnam Campaign Medal with 60 Device, 
Meritorious Unit Citation, and the Army Commendation Medal.
  Upon his return from Vietnam, he graduated from Western Kentucky 
University in my hometown of Bowling Green and, most notably, met his 
future wife, Julia Kirk at the Baptist Student Union. Together, they 
embarked on his 40 years of pastoral ministry in seven different 
States, finally retiring back in our community. He and Julia are 
blessed with four children and a host of grandchildren and great-
grandchildren.
  His legacy of serving others, first in the Armed Services and then in 
pastoral ministry, continues in a unique way with which I have a 
personal connection. His daughter, Amy Bee, is a constituent service 
representative in my office in Bowling Green. She is one of the many 
talented staff members

[[Page S2038]]

who help Kentuckians navigate the highly complex problems that they are 
experiencing with Federal agencies, like the Internal Revenue Service, 
or the Veterans Administration. Men and women who have exhausted every 
avenue of their own resources count on professionals like Amy--and her 
talented colleagues--to resolve their issues in a timely way. It is a 
unique and highly demanding form of service and reflects the values 
modeled by Amy's father and grandfather.
  Later this month, David Thomas--and a plane full of fellow veterans--
will come to Washington with an Honor Flight Bluegrass excursion. Each 
one of these veterans has his or her own story to tell, and by sharing 
a glimpse into the life of David Thomas, we salute them all.

                          ____________________