[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 149 (2003), Part 7]
[House]
[Page 9921]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




     PAYING TRIBUTE TO THE LIFE OF CORPORAL ARMANDO ARIEL GONZALEZ

  (Mr. WILSON of South Carolina asked and was given permission to 
address the House for 1 minute and to revise and extend his remarks.)
  Mr. WILSON of South Carolina. Madam Speaker, I rise today to pay 
tribute to the life of Corporal Armando Ariel Gonzalez, who gave his 
life bringing freedom to the oppressed people of Iraq.
  Armando understood the significance of Operation Iraqi Freedom better 
than most Americans because, as a teenager, he and his father used a 
raft to escape from an oppressive regime in Cuba to find liberty in 
America.
  Corporal Gonzalez was a dedicated Marine assigned to the Marine Wing 
Support Squadron 273 stationed at the Marine Corps Air Station Beaufort 
in South Carolina. He served bravely in a hostile environment, and 
supported one of the most successful military campaigns in history, one 
that will be immortalized along with the battles of Belleau Woods, 
Okinawa, Inchon, and Khe Sanh.
  Armando fought for a country he could not call his own, but has 
received his citizenship posthumously, thanks to the hard work of the 
gentleman from Florida (Mr. Lincoln Diaz-Balart).
  He leaves behind a loving wife, Liudmila, who is expecting their 
first child. His baby will be born an American, and can be proud of a 
father who died as a true patriot. In conclusion, God bless our troops.

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