[Congressional Record Volume 169, Number 157 (Wednesday, September 27, 2023)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E895]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]





   HONORING THE COURAGEOUS MILITARY SERVICE OF CORPORAL THOMAS RAMEY

                                 ______
                                 

                         HON. DIANA HARSHBARGER

                              of tennessee

                    in the house of representatives

                     Wednesday, September 27, 2023

  Mrs. HARSHBARGER. Mr. Speaker, I rise to honor Corporal Thomas Ramey 
of Kingsport in Sullivan County, Tennessee for his heroic military 
service during the Vietnam War. CPL Ramey reported for duty in the 
United States Marines in 1968 after receiving his draft notice. He then 
transferred to Parris Island for Basic Training before joining the 
Infantry Training Regiment at Camp Lejeune. At Camp Lejeune, CPL Ramey 
also received training at the Motor Transport School for Jeeps, as well 
as 6x6 and PC trucks.
  The following year, CPL Ramey was assigned to Camp Pendleton to 
prepare for a combat tour in Vietnam. Traveling across the Pacific, CPL 
Ramey stopped in Hawaii and Okinawa, Japan, before he finally arrived 
in Vietnam. During his tour of duty, CPL Ramey was stationed at Hill 
327 Marine Base to conduct transportation operations with the 1st 
Marine Division Battalion 327 in the Transportation Corps.
  As a truck driver, CPL Ramey transported everything--from North 
Vietnamese POWs to ammunition supplies. On August 12, 1969, within 
weeks of his arrival, CPL Ramey and his unit were ambushed by North 
Vietnamese Army Sappers in their own compound. Sappers were commando 
units, who trained to inflict devastating attacks on key road and 
bridge assets. During this engagement, CPL Ramey saw many of his 
comrades, including his roommate, pay the ultimate sacrifice in service 
to our Nation.
  Following his tour of duty in Vietnam, CPL Ramey reported to the USS 
El Paso, where he sailed from Norfolk, VA to Alexandroupolis, Greece. 
In Greece, he participated in wargaming exercises along with an 
international coalition of 5 other countries. In 1970, the El Paso was 
put on standby by President Richard Nixon due to civil unrest in Jordan 
in preparation for hostage rescue. Shortly after, CPL Ramey was 
honorably discharged from the U.S. Marine Corps later that year. I join 
East Tennessee and the Nation in saying thank you to CPL Ramey for his 
service, and welcome home.
  Please join me in recognizing Corporal Thomas Ramey for his bravery, 
courage, and valiant military service to the United States of America.

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