[Congressional Record Volume 171, Number 200 (Monday, December 1, 2025)]
[Senate]
[Page S8419]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                        TRIBUTE TO SUSAN SHAPIRO

 Mr. TUBERVILLE. Mr. President, the holidays are a great 
reminder of the joy that comes from giving of our time and talents. It 
is also a time to reflect on those like LTC Susan Shapiro of New 
Market, AL, who are willing to spend holidays away from loved ones so 
that we can celebrate in peace with ours.
  Susan grew up in a military family. Her father was a master sergeant 
in the Air Force, and many of her four older siblings either served 
themselves or are military spouses. Susan decided to join herself in 
1989 as a means to pay for her college. However, this decision led to 
more than two decades of service. While in basic training in 
California, Susan met her husband--and fellow Army veteran--Jeff. They 
later welcomed their son Trent.
  Susan spent the next decade going back and forth serving in both 
Active Duty and in the Army Reserves. During a stint in Oklahoma, she 
helped in the recovery and investigation logistics from the tragic 
Oklahoma City bombing. Her work took her all over the country: 
California, Oklahoma, Kentucky, New York. But the traveling stopped in 
1999 when her husband was located to Huntsville, and they knew they had 
found their home. Shortly upon this move, Susan was assigned an 
overseas deployment to Iraq.
  But before fighting on the battlefield abroad, she had to defeat a 
battle here at home: breast cancer. And that she did. Just 3 years 
after defeating cancer, Susan deployed to the Middle East to serve with 
the Headquarters Company Command and fight in the war on terror. While 
she was overseas, she connected deeply with two other women--her 
``battle buddies'' as she calls them--Tammy and Sabine. One of her 
fondest memories of her time in Iraq is when her team members 
coordinated a Cancer Walk with her entire command as her family members 
back in the States did a Cancer Walk of their own.
  The bond Susan formed with her team, Tammy, and Sabine was truly 
unbreakable. After returning home from deployment, the three remained 
inseparable. Susan walked with them through their own personal battles 
with breast cancer and has taken Tammy's family as her own after Tammy 
sadly lost her fight with cancer.
  Susan also played a key part in Redstone Arsenal's Missile Defense 
Agency until her retirement in 2013. She now spends most of her time 
with her friends and family and rescuing animals in need of a home.
  As we enter into this holiday season, I am honored to recognize Susan 
Shapiro as the December Veteran of the Month.

                          ____________________