[Congressional Record Volume 169, Number 187 (Monday, November 13, 2023)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1093]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




       RECOGNIZING OGEMAW VETERAN OF THE YEAR MR. CHARLIE PUZJAK

                                 ______
                                 

                           HON. JACK BERGMAN

                              of michigan

                    in the house of representatives

                       Monday, November 13, 2023

  Mr. BERGMAN. Mr. Speaker, it is my honor to recognize the Ogemaw 
County Veteran of the Year, Mr. Charlie D. Puzjak of West Branch, 
Michigan. Charlie's dedication to supporting his community is an 
inspiration to Veterans and makes him a deserving recipient of this 
recognition.
  The Ogemaw County Veterans Alliance, a nonprofit organization 
representing all Veterans of Ogemaw County, annually honors a hero for 
their outstanding service to the United States and their continued 
activism in their community post-service. This year, the Veterans 
Alliance has chosen Mr. Charlie D. Puzjak to receive the highest honor 
the organization can bestow.
  Charlie served honorably for 18 and a half years in the United States 
Army as a MOS H63. In December of 2004, he answered the nation's call 
once again, this time for deployment to Iraq. After completing his 
training in El Paso, Texas, Mr. Puzjak was deployed to Camp Arifjan in 
Kuwait and subsequently served at 12 other bases in the Middle East. 
Following an unfortunate accident in 2005, he received an honorable 
medical discharge. Despite this, Mr. Puzjak maintains that he would re-
enlist in a heartbeat.
  Mr. Puzjak's commitment to service extends beyond his military 
career. After his honorable medical discharge, Charlie immediately 
began advocating for other Michigan Veterans. Since 2005, Charlie has 
served as the Director of the Ogemaw County Veterans Museum, founder of 
the nonprofit ``A Soldiers First Aid from Home'', and organizer of many 
other Veterans' fundraisers and community events. It is incredibly 
heartening to see how Mr. Puzjak consistently puts others before 
himself.
  Mr. Speaker, it is my honor to congratulate Mr. Charlie Puzjak on 
this well-deserved award. I extend to him my gratitude for his 
continuous efforts to uplift Veterans in his community and I wish him 
all the best in his future endeavors.

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