[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 145 (1999), Part 21]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages 31288-31289]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]



            TRIBUTE TO U.S. MARINE CORPS CAPTAIN SARAH DEAL

                                 ______
                                 

                           HON. MARCY KAPTUR

                                of ohio

                    in the house of representatives

                      Thursday, November 18, 1999

  Ms. KAPTUR. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize the achievements 
of U.S. Marine

[[Page 31289]]

Corps Captain Sarah Deal. Captain Deal deserves the warmest, most 
heart-felt congratulations for her accomplishment of becoming the first 
female pilot in Marine Corps history. Her achievements reflect her 
courage, determination and self-belief. On behalf of Ohio's lawmakers 
and citizens, I wish to pay tribute to this outstanding young woman.
  Growing up in Pemberville, Ohio, Captain Deal always had a passion 
for flying, in part inspired by her father, a former Marine, who worked 
as an engineer testing jet engines. A graduate from Eastwood High 
School, she went on to study aviation at Kent State University. From 
there, she made the tough choice to join the United States Marine Corps 
to begin training as an air traffic control officer. Even though women 
were allowed to fly in the Army, Navy and Air Force, she still chose 
the Marines, knowing that the only way she would be allowed to fly 
would be recreationally. However, her difficult choice was rewarded 
with the landmark Defense Department decision in 1993, ordering the 
armed forces to end their ban on women flying combat missions. 
Following the announcement, Captain Deal immediately chose to attend 
Marine flight school despite being the only women there. Her 
persistence and hard work were rewarded in April 1995, when her father 
had the pleasure of pinning her wings to her uniform at her graduation 
ceremony in Milton, Florida.
  Abigail Adams once wrote in a letter to her husband, ``all history 
and every age exhibit instances of patriotic virtue in the female sex; 
which considering our situation equals the most heroic of yours.'' 
Captain Deal follows in the footsteps of the legendary Grace Hopper, 
mathematician and computer pioneer, who became the first female Rear 
Admiral in the US Navy. And of Sally Ride, the first female U.S. 
astronaut. And of Mary Hallaren, champion for permanent status for 
women in the military after World War II and subsequent director of the 
Women's Auxiliary Corps from 1947-1953. All these women have proved 
there is nothing that cannot equally be achieved by women in our armed 
forces. Captain Deal's achievements are a proud demonstration of what 
can be achieved by women in today's society. Her achievements offer 
hope and encouragement to all women to follow their dreams and to 
pursue paths that have previously been unjustly denied them. Her 
efforts have been a key factor in breaking the gender barrier that 
existed in the armed forces and in opening the eyes of others to more 
tolerant attitudes.
  This month Captain Deal will be inducted into the Ohio Women's Hall 
of Fame, in recognition of her achievements. On behalf of Ohio's Ninth 
District, I would like to wish Captain Deal every success with her 
military career and in her current assignment with the Marine Corps Air 
Station in Miramar, California. We are truly grateful for her service 
to our country and once again congratulate her for all her 
achievements. Her virtue and patriotism are a shining example to all 
women, and indeed, all people in this Nation.

                          ____________________