[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 145 (1999), Part 20]
[House]
[Page 28917]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]



 TRIBUTE TO FIVE U.S. SOLDIERS WHO DIED IN THE PLANE CRASH OF JULY 23, 
                           1999, IN COLOMBIA

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Under a previous order of the House, the 
gentleman from Texas (Mr. Reyes) is recognized for 5 minutes.
  Mr. REYES. Mr. Speaker, on July 23 a U.S. Army reconnaissance plane 
on a counterdrug mission crashed in the jungles of Colombia. It killed 
all on board. There were five U.S. Army soldiers and two Colombian air 
crewmen on this aircraft.
  During this week, when we honor our Nation's veterans, I wanted to 
pay tribute to the five U.S. soldiers who died in that crash. These 
five individuals were husbands, a wife, parents, and children. They 
have paid the ultimate sacrifice for this Nation, and we must not 
forget what their families have sacrificed, as well.
  The five soldiers whom we honor tonight were part of a special 
military intelligence battalion, the 204th, which recently moved from 
Panama and Florida to Fort Bliss, which is located in my district. They 
were flying a reconnaissance mission over Colombia in a specially-
equipped aircraft.
  The first soldier was Captain Jennifer Odom. The pilot of the ARL, 
the aircraft which crashed in Colombia was Captain Jennifer Odom. She 
was born in Frederick, Maryland, in 1970, and graduated from West Point 
in 1992. After graduating from flight school, Captain Odom spent 2 
years in Stuttgart, Germany, flying senior ranking government officials 
and general officers throughout Europe.
  After completing her military intelligence training, she joined the 
204th MI battalion as an executive officer of D company. She was 
scheduled to take command of D Company in August. Captain Odom was an 
experienced pilot, having flown well over 2,000 hours in military 
aircraft, including 300 hours as a pilot in command of this particular 
aircraft.
  She leaves her husband, Charles Odom, and her two children, Charles, 
age 15, and Daniel, age 11.
  The other officer on the aircraft was Captain Jose Anthony Santiago. 
Captain Santiago was born in New York City in 1962. He enlisted in the 
Army in 1984, and after 7 years, was commissioned as an air defense 
artillery officer. He later moved into military intelligence and 
excelled in every aspect of the job. In light of his accomplishment, 
the battalion commander selected Captain Santiago to command the 
Headquarters and Service Company of the 204th.
  During the past year, his company has done an excellent job in 
supporting six deployments in South America. Captain Santiago was also 
a senior army parachutist and a jump master. He is survived by his wife 
Cynthia and his two children, Christiana and Laura.
  Along with Captain Odom, Chief Warrant Officer 2 Thomas G. Moore was 
the second pilot in the aircraft. CW2 Moore was born in Englewood, 
California, in 1967. He joined the Army in 1988 after attending the 
U.S. Army Air Force Academy.
  After serving as a Bradley fighting vehicle commander during Desert 
Storm, CW2 Moore was selected for the warrant officer training program 
and attended army flight school. He served with the 204th MI battalion 
since 1996. CW2 Thomas Moore was married to Rebecca, and survived by 
two children, Matthew and Emily.
  The fourth soldier whom we honor tonight is specialist Timothy Bruce 
Cluff. Specialist Cluff was born in Mesa, Arizona. During high school 
he achieved the high range of Eagle Scout in the Boy Scouts of America.
  In 1997, he enlisted in the Army, and it was apparent almost 
immediately that he would be an outstanding soldier. Specialist Cluff 
proved to be a highly skilled analyst and was selected as a mission 
supervisor based on his exemplary performance. This outstanding soldier 
is survived by his wife, Meggin, and his two young children, Maciah and 
Ryker. Meggin is also today expecting her third child.
  The last soldier was specialist Ray E. Krueger II. Specialist Krueger 
was born in Leavenworth, Kansas, and graduated from The Colony High 
School. Krueger was an outstanding soldier in many ways. For example, 
this young man not only excelled as a crew member in the aircraft, but 
he also scored the highest possible level on the Army's physical 
fitness test, and qualified as an expert with the M-16 rifle.
  Specialist Krueger leaves his wife, Briana Krueger, who was also 
assigned to the 204th MI battalion, and who recently has left the Army 
to return to civilian life.
  Tonight I want the husbands, wives, children, and parents of these 
brave soldiers to know that we in Congress are thinking of them, and we 
want to thank them for the sacrifices which they have made for this 
country. God bless each and every one of them: Captain Odom, Captain 
Santiago, Chief Warrant Officer Moore, Specialist Cluff, and Specialist 
Krueger.
  This country owes them all the gratitude, especially during this week 
when we celebrate and pay tribute to our veterans.

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