[Congressional Record Volume 172, Number 110 (Thursday, July 2, 2026)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E647]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




 HONORING COLONEL JOHN D. SAMPLES UPON HIS RETIREMENT FROM THE UNITED 
                              STATES ARMY

                                 ______
                                 

                       HON. PABLO JOSE HERNANDEZ

                             of puerto rico

                    in the house of representatives

                         Thursday, July 2, 2026

  Mr. HERNANDEZ. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor Colonel John D. 
Samples, Garrison Commander of United States Army Garrison Fort 
Buchanan, as he concludes his distinguished military career and 
transitions to a well-deserved retirement. It is both a privilege and 
an honor to recognize a leader whose service has left an indelible mark 
on our island, our military community, and the broader Caribbean 
region.
  Puerto Rico has a deep and proud military tradition. Our sons and 
daughters have served in every major conflict in American history, and 
the bonds between the people of Puerto Rico and the United States Armed 
Forces run generations deep. Fort Buchanan, Sentinel of the Caribbean 
and the Army's only installation in Puerto Rico and the Caribbean, 
stands as a symbol of that enduring relationship, and Colonel Samples 
understood that responsibility from the moment he assumed command.
  What distinguished Colonel Samples was not simply his rank or his 
record, impressive as both are. It was his genuine investment in the 
people and the place entrusted to his care. He approached his command 
not as a temporary assignment, but as a calling. He walked into 
communities, built relationships, and worked to ensure that the men and 
women under his charge, and the veterans and military families who 
depend on Fort Buchanan, were seen, heard, and supported. In a role 
that could have been administrative, he chose to be present.
  Under his leadership, Fort Buchanan grew stronger as an installation 
and deeper in its ties to the communities surrounding it. He recognized 
that the strength of an installation is inseparable from the strength 
of its relationships: with local government, with civic organizations, 
with veterans' groups, and with the families who sacrifice alongside 
those who serve. He nurtured those relationships with consistency and 
with purpose.
  Colonel Samples also understood the unique strategic significance of 
Fort Buchanan. As the Army's stronghold in the Caribbean, the 
installation serves not only the people of Puerto Rico, but also those 
of the United States Virgin Islands and the broader region. He 
stewarded that mission with seriousness and vision, ensuring Fort 
Buchanan remained a place of readiness, resilience, and genuine 
service.
  For all of this, the people of Puerto Rico are grateful. We are 
grateful for the years Colonel Samples devoted to this island, for his 
professionalism, his steadiness, and his care. We are grateful to his 
family, who shared in the sacrifices that military life demands and who 
made their home among us. Their presence here has been a gift, and 
their departure leaves a void that speaks to their level of devotion.
  Mr. Speaker, when we speak of public service at its finest, we speak 
of people like Colonel John D. Samples, individuals who give more than 
is asked, lead with more than authority, and leave every place better 
than they found it. Fort Buchanan is better because of his command. 
Puerto Rico is better because of his presence.
  As the Resident Commissioner of Puerto Rico, and on behalf of the 
people of our island, I offer Colonel Samples our deepest gratitude, 
our highest respect, and our warmest wishes for his next remarkable 
chapter.

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