[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 152 (2006), Part 13]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page 17325]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




  TRIBUTE TO VIETNAM WAR VETERAN WILLIAM REES, JR. OF LEVY COUNTY, FL

                                 ______
                                 

                         HON. GINNY BROWN-WAITE

                               of florida

                    in the house of representatives

                      Wednesday, September 6, 2006

  Ms. GINNY BROWN-WAITE of Florida. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor 
William Rees, Jr. of Williston, Florida, a purple heart Veteran from 
the Vietnam war.
  Mr. Rees was wounded in action in April of 1968 when a mine exploded 
near his station. As part of the 3rd Squadron, 11th armored cavalry 
regiment, Mr. Rees and his fellow soldiers faced the enemy in battle 
many times throughout that fateful month.
  During April, his squadron destroyed seven hundred and twenty-five 
enemy bunkers and recorded forty-nine vietnamese soldiers killed in 
action. Additionally, Mr., Rees and his fellow troops confiscated 
significant weapons caches, numerous documents, utensils, food, and 
medical supplies.
  Veterans of the Vietnam war made tremendous sacrifices in the name of 
freedom. More than 300,000 brave soldiers were wounded during the war, 
many of them disabled for life.
  This level of sacrifice required a great amount of courage, strength, 
and devotion to the preservation of the American ideals of democracy 
and freedom for all. It is by remembering their sacrifices that we can 
celebrate the end of such a difficult conflict.
  Mr. Speaker, veterans like William Rees, Jr. should be recognized for 
their service to our nation and for their commitment and sacrifices in 
battle. I am honored to have presented Mr. Rees with his long overdue 
purple heart. He should know that we truly consider him one of 
America's heroes.

                          ____________________