[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 152 (2006), Part 11]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page 14428]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




    RECOGNIZING THE HEROIC FEATS OF SPECIALIST TOM HOY, OREGON ARMY 
                             NATIONAL GUARD

                                 ______
                                 

                            HON. GREG WALDEN

                               of oregon

                    in the house of representatives

                        Thursday, July 13, 2006

  Mr. WALDEN of Oregon. Mr. Speaker, the late Arthur Ashe once said, 
``True heroism is remarkably sober, very undramatic. It is not the urge 
to surpass all others at any cost, but the urge to serve others at 
whatever cost.''
  With that in mind, I rise today to recognize a heroic event that took 
place in the heart of Oregon's 2nd Congressional District on Sunday, 
July 10, 2006. On that day, a member of our Nation's military gave 
selfless service to three children in danger--and in the process saved 
a life.
  Specialist Tom Hoy is a member of the Oregon Army National Guard, 1st 
Squadron, 82nd Cavalry, 41st Infantry Brigade Combat Team. On July 
10th, 2006, he was with three fellow soldiers participating in 
recruiting activities near the Deschutes River in Bend, Oregon.
  While near the river, Specialist Hoy observed three children on 
inner-tubes, with no life jackets, who were floating downstream, 
dangerously near a spillway.
  A spillway creates a perilous setting. A woman was reported as having 
drowned near this spillway the day before, and another woman had to be 
pulled from it unconscious several days before that.
  What Specialist Hoy saw was at least one of the children appearing to 
be in distress. The soldiers directed the three children to come to 
shore, and the two older boys were able to. But the third child, a 
young girl no older than six or seven years old, was too far out and 
appeared to be crying and frightened. Specialist Hoy told the girl to 
grab onto some weeds that were growing out of the water and instructed 
another soldier to stay on the near side of the river in case she let 
go and made it near that side. Hoy then ran upstream, crossed a bridge, 
and ran back down the opposite bank, jumping several fences, until he 
reached the girl's location. Without any concern for his personal 
safety, Specialist Hoy entered the waist deep, swift-moving water and 
was able to have the girl climb onto his back where he carried her to 
safety. Hoy, the other soldiers, and one civilian then returned the 
girl to her overjoyed parents.
  Specialist Hoy is a resident of Prineville, Oregon, where he resides 
with his wife, Jennifer, and their children. He remains a dedicated 
public servant. In addition to his continued role protecting our 
Nation, he is a reserve police officer with the Prineville Police 
Department.
  I myself am proud to represent Specialist Hoy in the House of 
Representatives. I urge my colleagues to applaud his selfless act of 
service as a way of urging others to follow the example set by this 
real life hero.

                          ____________________