[Congressional Record Volume 171, Number 109 (Wednesday, June 25, 2025)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E620]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




         HONORING THE LIFE AND LEGACY OF SERGEANT KEITH DEUTSCH

                                 ______
                                 

                            HON. ANGIE CRAIG

                              of minnesota

                    in the house of representatives

                        Wednesday, June 25, 2025

  Ms. CRAIG. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor my constituent, 
Sergeant Keith Deutsch, a veteran of Operation Iraqi Freedom.
  Sergeant Deutsch enlisted in the United States Army in the summer 
following the attacks of September 11, 2001. He rose through the ranks 
quickly, earning five promotions and receiving the Army Commendation 
Medal, the Bronze Star for Valor, and the Purple Heart.
  In 2003, Keith was wounded by an enemy-fired rocket-propelled grenade 
while serving as an M249 SAW gunner. His squad leader, Staff Sergeant 
Mark A. Lawton, was killed in the same attack. Staff Sergeant Lawton 
died never having lost a Soldier under his command. He ran toward fire, 
shielded his Soldiers, and led from the front. A proud former Marine, 
the Army was Staff Sergeant Lawton's retirement position.
  After recovering from his injuries, Keith helped pioneer the sport of 
adaptive snowboarding, competing on the World Cup Tour and in the 
Winter X Games using prosthetics developed with the Department of 
Veterans Affairs support.
  Keith later returned to New Prague, Minnesota, and reopened his 
father's business, Ron's Cycle Shop, as a Service-Disabled Veteran-
Owned Small Business. Today, it supplies electric bicycles to 
government agencies under contracts with the State of Minnesota and the 
Department of Defense. He is also the founder of the New Prague Area 
Mountain Bike Park.
  In October 2025, Keith will run both the Army Ten-Miler and the 50th 
Marine Corps Marathon as an above-knee amputee in honor of Staff 
Sergeant Mark A. Lawton.
  Sergeant Deutsch's life and career is characterized by great personal 
sacrifice and exemplary service. He represents the best that this 
country has to offer. I thank him for his service and dedication to our 
country.

                          ____________________