[Congressional Record Volume 169, Number 151 (Tuesday, September 19, 2023)]
[Senate]
[Page S4582]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




         TRIBUTE TO PETTY OFFICER FIRST CLASS DUANE B. PEARSON

  Mr. LANKFORD. Mr. President, I rise today to honor Navy Petty Officer 
First Class Duane B. Pearson. HM1 Duane Pearson originally hailed from 
the Bronx, NY, and as an Army family, he moved throughout the Nation; 
in Lawton, OK, he decided to enlist in the U.S. Navy and follow his 
family history of military service.
  His initial oath was in November 2001 in Oklahoma City, OK; he 
completed Navy boot camp and Hospital Corps School in Great Lakes, IL, 
and went on to Expeditionary Medical Facility Training, Cherry Point, 
NC, and Physical Therapy Technician School, San Antonio, TX, where he 
was also promoted to third class petty officer.
  His enlisted assignments include Naval Hospital Cherry Point, NC; 
National Naval Medical Center Bethesda, MD, where he was deployed to 
Camp Lemonnier to Djibouti, Africa; Naval Hospital Yokosuka, Japan; and 
the Office of Attending Physician, Washington, DC.
  While at the Office of Attending Physician, he continued providing 
expert physical therapy services, but also managed an emergency 
response medical call center, and provided advanced cardiac life 
support response to multiple Nation special security events, including 
three Presidential inaugurations, nine State of the Union Addresses, 
seven Peace Officers Memorials, and scores of gold medal ceremonies and 
summer concerts. Additionally, he was instrumental in administering 
over 30,000 Covid vaccines in direct support of both the Supreme Court 
of the United States, and U.S. Congress.
  His military decorations include the Navy and Marine Corps 
Commendation Medal, Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medal, Joint 
Meritorious Unit Award, Navy Unit Commendation, Navy Meritorious Unit 
Commendation, Armed Forces Service Medal, Humanitarian Service Medal, 
and various other personal and unit awards.
  His military career has been successful because of the support and 
confidence of Jasmine, his wife and best friend of 18 years. He also 
has two supportive children, who are both talented athletes--Micah and 
Imani.
  In May 2019, he received his bachelor of arts Degree, with honors, 
from Southern Illinois University in healthcare management and will 
complete his master's in healthcare administration from the University 
of Baltimore this December.

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