[Congressional Record Volume 172, Number 126 (Monday, August 3, 2026)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E758-E759]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




 PAYING TRIBUTE TO SPECIALIST LARISA DICKERSON (RETIRED) ON RECEIVING 
                            THE PURPLE HEART

                                 ______
                                 

                         HON. GUS M. BILIRAKIS

                               of florida

                    in the house of representatives

                         Monday, August 3, 2026

  Mr. BILIRAKIS. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to pay tribute to an 
extraordinary American patriot, Specialist Larisa Dickerson (Ret.), 
whose courage, resilience, and unwavering devotion to our Nation embody 
the very best of the United States Army and the American spirit. Born 
in Chicago, Illinois, and raised in Tampa, Florida, Larisa answered our 
Nation's call to service immediately after graduating from high school. 
At just nineteen years old, she enlisted in the United States Army in 
2002 and completed Basic Combat Training at Fort Leonard Wood, 
Missouri, before being assigned to the 410th Military Police Company of 
the 89th Military Police Brigade at Fort Hood, Texas. In April 2004, 
Specialist Dickerson deployed to Iraq in support of Operation Iraqi 
Freedom. During that deployment, she and her fellow Military Police 
Soldiers carded out some of the most demanding and dangerous missions 
of the war. They protected U.S. government dignitaries, secured vital 
supply convoys, established checkpoints to safeguard Coalition Forces, 
and trained Iraqi police officers, helping to lay the foundation for 
stability and security in a volatile region. Their professionalism and 
determination contributed to hundreds of successful missions under 
extraordinarily difficult conditions.
  Specialist Dickerson also made history while deployed. She became the 
first female service member in the United States Armed Forces to train 
on the Common Remotely Operated Weapon System (CROWS), an innovative 
weapons platform that allowed operators to engage threats from within 
the protection of an armored vehicle. Her willingness to embrace new 
technology and break barriers demonstrated not only exceptional skill 
but also remarkable leadership and courage, paving the way for 
countless women who would follow in her footsteps. On November 7, 2004, 
while returning to Forward Operating Base Falcon in southern Baghdad, 
Specialist Dickerson's convoy was struck by a devastating roadside 
bomb. She suffered severe injuries as a result of enemy action and was 
evacuated first to the 31st Combat Support Hospital in Baghdad's Green 
Zone before being transferred to Germany for advanced medical 
treatment. Just four days later, on November 11--Veterans Day--she 
spent her twenty-first birthday recovering in a military hospital, 
surrounded by the sacrifices that define the true cost of freedom. For 
the wounds she sustained in combat, she was awarded the Purple Heart, 
one of our Nation's most revered military decorations.

[[Page E759]]

  Although her injuries forever changed the course of her life, they 
never diminished her spirit. Instead, they strengthened her resolve to 
continue serving others. Larisa often reflects that her military 
service taught her to appreciate life's simplest blessings and to never 
be ashamed of the scars she carries, because they are lasting reminders 
that she was stronger than the adversity she faced. Those words speak 
not only to her own journey but also to the resilience demonstrated by 
so many of our wounded warriors. Following her military service, 
Specialist Dickerson continued her commitment to public service by 
pursuing higher education, earning an Associate's Degree in Criminal 
Justice and a Bachelor's Degree in Accounting. Today, she serves the 
citizens of Hillsborough County as a Senior Accounting Manager with the 
Clerk of the Circuit Court & Comptroller's Office, where she continues 
to exemplify integrity, professionalism, and dedication to her 
community. Beyond her professional accomplishments, Larisa's greatest 
pride is her family. She is the devoted mother of two sons, David Jr. 
and Daniel, and has instilled in them the same values of courage, 
perseverance, and love of country that guided her own life. Mr. 
Speaker, the Purple Heart is far more than a medal, it is a solemn 
symbol of sacrifice, valor, and unwavering devotion to duty. Specialist 
Larisa Dickerson's service reminds us that the freedoms we enjoy every 
day have been secured by brave Americans willing to place themselves in 
harm's way for a cause greater than themselves.
  It is my distinct privilege to recognize Specialist Larisa Dickerson 
(Ret.) for her extraordinary service, her historic contributions to our 
Armed Forces, and her continued dedication to her community. On behalf 
of a grateful Nation, I thank her for her sacrifice, honor her 
remarkable legacy, and offer my deepest gratitude for all she has 
done--and continues to do--in service to others.

                          ____________________