[Congressional Record Volume 170, Number 51 (Friday, March 22, 2024)]
[House]
[Page H1358]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




       PURPLE HEARTS FOR THE SOLDIERS LOST IN THE JOLLY 51 CRASH

  (Mr. LaLOTA asked and was given permission to address the House for 1 
minute and to revise and extend his remarks.)
  Mr. LaLOTA. Mr. Speaker, the seven young men who lost their lives in 
the 2018 crash of Jolly 51 in western Iraq deserve Purple Hearts.
  Four of the seven were based out of the 106th Rescue Wing in 
Westhampton Beach in my district on Long Island. Two of those four were 
raised in my district: Master Sergeant Christopher Raguso of Huntington 
and Staff Sergeant Dashan Briggs of Riverhead.
  For years now, the men of Jolly 51 have been denied Purple Hearts by 
the Air Force, despite efforts by my predecessor and me.
  After having the privilege of speaking at a memorial service last 
week to honor the sixth anniversary of the crash, I am here today to 
recommit to the families of the men of Jolly 51 that I will do 
everything in my power to ensure they are posthumously awarded Purple 
Hearts.
  They gave their lives in action against an enemy of the United 
States. Posthumously awarding each of these seven brave men a Purple 
Heart is the very least we can do.

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