[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 149 (2003), Part 7]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages 9722-9723]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




REMEMBERING IAN D.W. SUTHERLAND, LIEUTENANT COLONEL, U.S. ARMY SPECIAL 
                            FORCES (RETIRED)

                                 ______
                                 

                          HON. JO ANN EMERSON

                              of missouri

                    in the house of representatives

                        Thursday, April 10, 2003

  Mrs. EMERSON. Mr. Speaker, this week, as we watch the events 
unfolding in Operation Iraqi Freedom, our hearts go out--not just to 
the Iraqi people who we are liberating from tyranny and oppression--but 
to our dear brave friends, the men and women in uniform serving in the 
American Armed Forces.
  The men and women of our Armed Forces have been on the front lines in 
Operation Iraqi Freedom and other conflicts throughout our country's 
history. Some of these men and women are easy to see. They are on 
television, in newspapers and some have even called in to talk to radio 
reporters about the latest happenings on the battlefield.
  Others are not so easy to see, but their work does not go unnoticed. 
They are the Special Forces. This week, in Missouri's Bootheel one of 
our own retired Special Forces was lost.
  Retired U.S. Army Lt. Col. Ian D.W. Sutherland passed away after a 
skydiving accident. Lt. Col. Sutherland was a longtime resident and 
friend to many in the Cape Girardeau County area. Raised in Tennessee, 
Lt. Col. Sutherland entered the U.S. Army in 1951. During his military 
career he was a member of the Old Guard--the Army ceremonial unit--and 
participated in the state funerals of President John F. Kennedy and 
Gen. Douglas MacArthur.
  He served three tours of duty in Vietnam, was associated with the 
82nd Airborne Division (Green Berets), and was assigned to the U.S. 
Embassy in Tehran, Iran. He retired from the Army as a lieutenant 
colonel from the Special Forces School at Ft. Bragg, North Carolina. 
His service was recognized by many. He was the recipient of many awards 
including

[[Page 9723]]

the Silver Star, two Legion of Merits, and five Bronze Stars.
  But when he retired, he didn't simply sit back and enjoy watching 
life. Instead, he went on to law school and furthered his lifelong 
career in public service by serving as an assistant prosecuting 
attorney. At the time of his death, he was the First Assistant 
prosecuting attorney in Cape Girardeau County. In a 15-year career as a 
trial lawyer, he prosecuted thousands of cases and tired 123 jury 
trials.
  Mr. Speaker, even though Lt. Col. Sutherland is no longer here, his 
work, his commitment and his love of God, country and service continue. 
And like so many who came before him and those who follow after, he 
served his country with distinction and honor--and that is how we in 
Missouri will always remember him.

                          ____________________