[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 149 (2003), Part 10]
[House]
[Page 13729]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




             IN HONOR OF PRIVATE FIRST CLASS ERIC BLEYTHING

  (Mr. BOOZMAN asked and was given permission to address the House for 
1 minute and to revise and extend his remarks.)
  Mr. BOOZMAN. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor one of America's 
bravest, Private First Class Eric Bleything of the 3rd District of 
Arkansas.
  Private First Class Bleything, a scout with the 3rd Armored Calvary 
Regiment in Iraq, was wounded last week when the eight-vehicle resupply 
convoy he was with was attacked. He was shot in the stomach with an AK-
47. Fortunately, the bullet missed all vital organs, and he is in good 
condition.
  Private First Class Bleything is one of the many heroes currently 
stationed in Iraq. However, what makes his story even more special is 
that Private First Class Bleything had an opportunity to stay in the 
U.S. rather than ship out with his unit in April. His wife had just 
been diagnosed with cancer, and his commanders told him he could stay 
behind to be with her through the treatments. However, they decided he 
should go and be with his unit. As Marcie herself said, he felt the 
obligation to go and serve his country.
  Mr. Speaker, Private First Class Bleything embodies the courage and 
sacrifice of America's men and women. My thoughts and prayers are with 
him as he continues to recover from this attack.

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