[Congressional Record Volume 169, Number 44 (Wednesday, March 8, 2023)]
[House]
[Page H1199]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




HONORING LIEUTENANT RUTH COUGHLIN, TENNESSEE'S SECOND DISTRICT'S MARCH 
                       2023 VETERAN OF THE MONTH

  (Mr. BURCHETT asked and was given permission to address the House for 
1 minute and to revise and extend his remarks.)
  Mr. BURCHETT. Mr. Speaker, I rise to honor Lieutenant Ruth Coughlin, 
an American hero who served in the Navy faithfully from 1953 to 1958.
  Lieutenant Coughlin was born in Spartanburg, South Carolina. After 
high school, she went to St. Vincent's Hospital in Birmingham, Alabama, 
where she graduated as a registered nurse. From 1944 to 1953, she 
worked in private practice in ophthalmology and oral surgery practices.
  In 1953, she joined the Navy as a Lieutenant Junior Grade and was 
stationed in Maryland at Bethesda Hospital. During her career she 
served as a nurse aboard a medical ship that made 32 round trips 
crossing the Atlantic Ocean from Brooklyn, New York, to north Germany. 
In 1957, she was reassigned to the U.S. Naval Hospital in Corona, 
California, where she met her husband, Dennis.
  They moved to Knoxville and raised five children together. She will 
be turning a very young 100 years old this month. I think it is very 
appropriate during International Women's Day that we honor her.
  So happy birthday, Ruth.
  Our country's heroes are the men and women of our Armed Forces, like 
Lieutenant Ruth Coughlin, who has dedicated her life to the service of 
her country. It is my honor to recognize Lieutenant Coughlin as the 
Tennessee Second District's March 2023 Veteran of the Month.

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