[Congressional Record Volume 169, Number 188 (Tuesday, November 14, 2023)]
[Senate]
[Pages S5496-S5497]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




  HONORING THE DISTINGUISHED SERVICE OF CAPTAIN SAMUEL FARMER OF THE 
UNITED STATES MARINE CORPS AND THE MARINES AND SAILORS OF 1ST PLATOON, 
             COMPANY G, 2ND BATTALION, 1ST MARINE REGIMENT

  Mr. HAWLEY. Mr. President, last week, the Senate offered a resolution 
that I was proud to offer, ``Honoring the Distinguished Service of 
Captain Samuel Farmer of the United States Marine Corps and the Marines 
and Sailors of 1st Platoon, Company G, 2nd Battalion, 1st Marine 
Regiment,'' and I would like, if I might, to say a word or two about 
that resolution here this afternoon.
  Why the resolution and who exactly are the marines and sailors of 1st 
Platoon? Well, I will tell you who they are. They were the individuals 
stationed at Abbey Gate on that fateful day in August of 2021 when the 
United States was in the midst of a major evacuation operation, and a 
terrorist from the Islamic State came to Abbey Gate in Kabul, 
Afghanistan, and detonated a suicide vest that killed 13 soldiers and 
hundreds of civilians, including 9 members of this platoon. Nine of the 
thirteen who were killed were from 1st Platoon, Company G, 2nd 
Battalion, 1st Marine Regiment.
  Who is Sam Farmer? Well, he was their commander. Sam is from the 
great State of Missouri. He is a graduate of Northwest Missouri State 
University. Upon his graduation, he was commissioned into the Marine 
Corps and became an infantry officer. Upon completing his training, he 
took command of a rifle platoon there in Company G, known as Ghost 
Company. His platoon was Ghost 1.
  Then, in August of 2021, Sam and his platoon found themselves in 
Kabul, Afghanistan. Sam's platoon was charged with security there at 
Abbey Gate, and there are--I think even now, 2 years removed from the 
disaster there, we don't fully appreciate the heroism of all of the 
soldiers, sailors, marines, and others who were there that day but 
particularly, if I might, of this platoon, of the men Sam commanded.
  Something that most people don't know is that Sam's platoon went for 
almost 2 days without food and water. Now, why was that? Is it because 
there wasn't any available for them? No, that is not it. It is because 
this platoon, in the midst of this evacuation, this incredibly tense 
scene, gave up their own food and water for 2 days to the Afghan women 
and children who were waiting in the crowds, hoping to be evacuated. 
That is the kind of men who were standing there on guard that day. That 
is the kind of man Sam Farmer is.
  Of those 9 servicemembers killed--8 marines, 1 Navy corpsman--another 
Missourian was among their ranks, someone whom I have had occasion to 
talk about on this floor several times before--LCpl Jared Schmitz, also 
from Missouri.
  Nine were killed from that platoon. Many others were wounded, and 
that includes Sam Farmer himself, the platoon commander. But even with 
his wounds, even in the midst of this disaster as it unfolded, Sam 
continued to serve, his fellow platoon members continued to serve and 
to complete their mission.
  I just want to make sure that we honor them for what they did, that 
we honor them for securing the airport and facilitating the evacuation 
of American citizens, permanent residents, Embassy workers, and special 
immigrant visa holders. Whatever you think of our withdrawal from 
Afghanistan, we should be able to honor the men and women who served so 
bravely, including Sam Farmer and the members of his platoon.
  You know, I have had the privilege to get to know Sam just a little 
bit. He grew up not too far from where I did in central Missouri. His 
parents, Chris and Anne, are schoolteachers at Fort Osage School 
District, which is in the Buckner area, for those who know Missouri, 
just to the west of my hometown of Lexington, MO. Sam has a younger 
brother, Jack.
  If you meet Sam, what you will find is that he is self-effacing, 
doesn't like to talk about his own achievements, doesn't like really to 
talk about himself at all. What he likes to talk about is his service 
and the men and women he served with. What he likes to talk about is 
his honor in being a U.S. marine.
  To be honest with you, I don't know that he would particularly like 
me saying too much about him on the floor today, but I thought it was 
important to honor him because Sam, just last month, completed his 
service with the U.S. Marine Corps. On the occasion of his separation, 
I offered this resolution, which details his service and the service of 
the members of his platoon.
  You know, I have to say I think about those who have served whom I 
know, and I think about particularly my own uncle, Gene Hammer, who 
served in the 101st Airborne Division in Vietnam. I observed over the 
years that my Uncle Gene--he served before I was born, but, you know, 
he served, he came home. He won a number of medals, but when he came 
home, he put those medals away in a drawer and never talked about it 
ever after. He didn't want to talk about it. He didn't want to talk 
about himself, didn't want to talk about what he did, didn't want to 
talk about those medals, didn't want to talk about any of it. I can 
certainly understand, and I certainly respect that.

  But I will just say that whether Sam feels that way or not, I bet one 
of these days, Sam's children are going to want to know what he did for 
his country, and I bet his family is going to want to honor his service 
to his country. Frankly, his family and his future children deserve to 
know what he and the members of his platoon did for this country.

[[Page S5497]]

  So I hope this resolution that the Senate has passed and adopted 
honoring Sam and his platoon--I hope that maybe one day, he will be 
able to show that to his kids and say ``Well, here, you can read about 
what we did all those years ago'' and that his parents, Chris and Anne, 
will be able to hang that up and say ``This is what my son did for our 
country, proudly serving, this young man from Missouri who represents, 
frankly, the best of who we are and who we can be.''
  So it is a privilege to get to honor Sam, to congratulate him on his 
service to our country, to the Marine Corps, to congratulate him on his 
service, his leadership of that platoon not just on that fateful day 
but for all of the days he was commander, and the leadership, the 
courage, and the bravery he has shown ever since.
  I will just end with this. Let's take the opportunity to honor the 
sacrifice of those marines and sailors. They truly embody the motto 
``Semper Fidelis,'' always faithful.
  I yield the floor.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. The Senator from Arkansas.

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