[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 152 (2006), Part 13]
[EXTENSIO]
[Page 17562]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




      RECOGNIZING ARMY SPECIALIST GARY PITTS OF INVERNESS, FLORIDA

                                 ______
                                 

                         HON. GINNY BROWN-WAITE

                              of florida.

                    in the house of representatives

                      Thursday, September 7, 2006

  Ms. GINNY BROWN-WAITE of Florida. Mr. Speaker, I Rise today to honor 
Gary Pitts of Inverness, Florida, an Army Specialist who served in Iraq 
and is currently based at Fort Carson, Colorado.
  Born in Inverness, Florida, Specialist Pitts graduated from Citrus 
High School in 1993. Following the events of September 11, he felt a 
strong need to do his part to fight the global war on terror and joined 
the Army at the age of 26. Completing basic training in May 2002 at 
Fort Knox, Kentucky, he went on to advanced training at Fort Bliss, 
Texas.
  Deployed to Iraq in February 2003 for a 5-month tour as a Patriot 
missile operator, Specialist Pitts returned to Fort Bliss following the 
completion of his duties. Having completed his initial commitment, on 
April 6, 2004, Specialist Pitts re-enlisted for another 3 years. Once 
again deployed to Iraq in March 2005, he served for a year in the 3rd 
Armored Cavalry Regiment as a radar operator and a turret gunner. While 
serving in Iraq, Specialist Pitts' missions included convoy security 
and elections security during Iraq's first elections.
  Specialist Pitts received the Combat Action Badge for engaging the 
enemy in action following an IED explosion next to his vehicle. 
Currently based at Fort Carson, Specialist Pitts has approximately 8 
more months to complete his 6 years of enlistment.
  In addition to his military service, Specialist Pitts has a natural 
talent for art and creativity, winning numerous blue ribbons for his 
pastel artwork. He is now married and living in Colorado Springs and 
enjoys his visits home to see his parents, Mike and Anne, and brothers, 
Steven and Mike. He also visits his sister Michele and niece Tiffany 
who live in Colorado.
  Mr. Speaker, it is soldiers like Gary Pitts who volunteer to protect 
the freedoms that all Americans hold dear to their hearts. He is to be 
commended for his service to our Nation and for his commitment to his 
family and loved ones. This Congress will never forget his sacrifices 
in battle.

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