[Congressional Record Volume 168, Number 201 (Friday, December 23, 2022)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1352]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                  RECOGNIZING LT. COL. ERIC VAN DE HEY

                                 ______
                                 

                          HON. MIKE GALLAGHER

                              of wisconsin

                    in the house of representatives

                       Friday, December 23, 2022

  Mr. GALLAGHER. Madam Speaker, I rise today to honor a lifetime of 
service to the American people by Lieutenant Colonel Eric Van De Hey.
  Lt. Col. Van De Hey is retiring after 35 years of selfless service to 
the United States. Since enlisting in 1987, he has dedicated his career 
in the U.S. Army to serving both his fellow soldiers and the United 
States. First and foremost, he has been a leader to many young 
soldiers, as he has trained soldiers at all levels of responsibility. 
He utilized his strong leadership skills while leading tactical 
platoons, strategic detachments, and serving in federal agencies. 
During his time in the Army, Lt. Col. Van De Hey served valiantly in 
many conflicts and missions including Operation Just Cause, Operation 
Desert Storm, Operation Desert Shield, and Operation Iraqi Freedom. For 
his service he earned numerous awards and commendations including the 
Legion of Merit, the Bronze Star, the Meritorious Service Medal, the 
Valorous Unit Citation, the Meritorious Unit Citation, and the Combat 
Action Badge. His multiple deployments and awards are another clear 
example of his impressive dedication to serving our country.
  Throughout his career, Lt. Col. Van De Hey has played a significant 
role in ensuring the safety of our troops while leading our military 
into the next generation of warfighting. As the Executive Officer in 
charge of Test Parachutists, he ensured that Army parachutes were safe 
and reliable for our service members. Lt. Col. Van De Hey was also 
responsible for overseeing great technological advancements for the 
military, such as research into self-driving cars and the use of 
satellite images to monitor humanitarian crises. It is evident through 
these accolades that Lt. Col. Van De Hey has committed his career to 
serving the United States of America and the Army.
  As Lt. Col. Van De Hey returns to private life, it is my honor to 
recognize his years of service in the United States military. I invite 
all members of this body to join me in congratulating Lt. Col. Eric Van 
De Hey and his family on his retirement. Our Nation is safer because of 
Lt. Col. Van De Hey's unwavering service and commitment to his country.

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