[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 152 (2006), Part 13]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page 17571]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




             RECOGNIZING RANDY HATCHER OF BRANDON, 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 
Randy Hatcher of Brandon, Florida, an Army Staff Sergeant killed in 
1991 during the first Persian Gulf War.
  Born in Tallahassee, Florida, Sgt. Hatcher was active on his high 
school wrestling team while living in Birmingham, Alabama. The son of 
an Air Force veteran, Randy made the decision to enter the military 
following high school.
  Following 6 years of Army service in Germany, Sgt. Hatcher was 
deployed to Iraq as part of the 197th Army Infantry Brigade. During his 
seven months serving in the Persian Gulf, Sgt. Hatcher wrote many 
upbeat letters to his family and loved ones, speaking of his love of 
fishing and how he worried for his family back home.
  Three days following victory in the Persian Gulf, Sgt. Hatcher was 
killed when an ammunition trailer in his convoy exploded. Up until his 
death, Sgt. Hatcher remained positive about his mission and his service 
in the Army. He believed in what the United States was doing in the 
Persian Gulf and did not complain about the work or the conditions he 
served in while overseas. He left behind his wife Florlita and a two 
and a half year old son Randy. Sgt. Hatcher's parents, Carol and Joseph 
Jones, still reside in Citrus County, Florida.
  Mr. Speaker, it is soldiers like Randy Hatcher who volunteered to 
protect the freedoms that all Americans hold dear to their hearts. 
While brave men and women like Randy have perished in the name of 
freedom and liberty, his family, friends and loved ones should know 
that this Congress will never forget his sacrifice and commitment.

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