[Congressional Record Volume 170, Number 83 (Tuesday, May 14, 2024)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E489]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                     RECOGNIZING MARTELL SWAIN, JR.

                                 ______
                                 

                         HON. GUS M. BILIRAKIS

                               of florida

                    in the house of representatives

                         Tuesday, May 14, 2024

  Mr. BILIRAKIS. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize and honor the 
service and patriotism of one of my constituents, Martell Swain, Jr. 
(Master Sergeant Retired), who enlisted in the U.S. Army at age 17 in 
1961. MSgT Swain's early training in the Army was in Infantry. In 1963, 
he was assigned to a unit that eventually became the famous Air Calvary 
Division. A year later, the status of his entire Brigade was changed to 
Airborne. All troops were required to become Paratroopers to remain 
with this unit. It was during this time he was promoted to Sergeant. In 
July of 1965 the entire Division was ordered to Vietnam by our 
President. This was the first Division to go to Vietnam as a unit. It 
was not the last. Serving two tours in Vietnam, Sergeant Swain was 
involved in extremely heavy combat, earning the coveted Combat Infantry 
Badge, Bronze Star with ``V'' for Valor, Meritorious Service Medal, 
numerous Air Medals, 2 Army Commendation Medals, 2 Vietnamese Cross of 
Gallantry with Palm, Vietnamese Civil Action Honor Medal, 2 
Presidential Unit Citations, and other awards and medals.
  Despite the fact that MSgT Swain never earned his high school 
diploma, he participated in many educational opportunities available 
through the military and became an instructor for Red Eye Air Defense 
Missile Systems and Anti-Tank Systems. Sergeant First Class Swain 
attended Drill Instructor School and served in that capacity for three 
years in Fort Jackson, South Carolina. His last assignment was as a 
Reserve Officer Training Corps instructor at Syracuse University, 
preparing Cadets for active duty as officers in the United States Army. 
While there, he was promoted to Master Sergeant. MSgT retired after 23 
years of faithful service. In 2022 Master Sergeant (Retired) Swain was 
honored by the National Infantry Association with induction into the 
Order of Saint Maurice in the rank of Centurion. MSgT Swain will be 
presented with an honorary high school diploma from a high school in 
Citrus County this year. With immense gratitude, we congratulate him on 
this important honor and thank him for his many years of distinguished 
service to our country.

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