[Congressional Record Volume 169, Number 153 (Thursday, September 21, 2023)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E875]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




    RECOGNIZING SOCS (SEAL), DAVID A. KNESEK, USN, RETIRED, WITH A 
                   CONGRESSIONAL VETERAN COMMENDATION

                                 ______
                                 

                           HON. PETE SESSIONS

                                of texas

                    in the house of representatives

                      Thursday, September 21, 2023

  Mr. SESSIONS. Mr. Speaker, I rise to present retired SOCS (SEAL) 
David A. Knesek, USN, of Cameron, Texas, with a Congressional Veteran 
Commendation.
  Born in Texas, retired SEAL Senior Chief Knesek wanted only to serve 
his country as the ``best of the best.'' Enlisting in the Navy's 
Delayed Entry Program, David earned a Criminal Justice degree from 
Blinn College in 1994. Passing SEAL boot camp later that year, he 
graduated in August 1995 from Basic Underwater Demolition/SEAL (BUD/S) 
training at Coronado, CA with Class 200, one of only 8 of 140 
candidates not failing a training segment. Assigned to SEAL Team Eight, 
David earned his trident and deployed to the Mediterranean in 1996, 
attached to the USS Austin. He remained at SEAL Team Eight for five 
years, deploying as an Ordnance Department Head to Germany in the NATO 
Bosnian Campaign, and with a 2000 STRIKE platoon to the Persian Gulf 
attached to the USS Dwight D. Eisenhower.
  His eight SEAL deployments included instructor, protection, defense, 
and combat assault missions. With SEAL Team Two, he deployed twice to 
Baghdad, Iraq and twice to Ramadi, Iraq (including integrating 63 
special operations personnel into a combat team completing 54 combat 
operations). In 2010 he took an instructor billet with Naval Special 
Warfare Group 2--but following 9/11, was asked to volunteer to take his 
SEAL Team Two Golf platoon to Afghanistan as Leading Chief Petty 
Officer. David remained with SEAL Team Two until retiring in 2014. His 
military honors include: 2 Bronze Star Medals with Valor, a Bronze Star 
Medal, Joint Services Commendation Medal with Valor, Joint Services 
Commendation Medal, four Navy and Marine Corps Commendation Medals, 
three Combat Action Ribbons, and a Meritorious Unit Commendation Medal.
  In 2015 David joined FTW Ranch in Barksdale, Texas, a preeminent 
marksmanship school training U.S. military and law enforcement groups, 
and hunters. A lead instructor, David uses his training to develop 
tactical skills in law enforcement personnel, and better and safer 
hunters. He has served as a 4-H Shooting Sports Coach. He shares 
personal safety and situational awareness knowledge with his local 
volunteer fire department and other organizations. David spends many 
hours sharing outdoors and hunting knowledge with young people and 
making Veterans Day presentations in local schools.
  It is my honor to award retired SEAL Senior Chief David A. Knesek, 
``the best of the best,'' with a Congressional Veteran Commendation 
from the 17th Congressional District of Texas.

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