[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 152 (2006), Part 18]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page 23759]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




  IN HONOR AND IN MEMORY OF ARMY SPECIALIST CHRIS MASON OF MOBILE, AL

                                 ______
                                 

                             HON. JO BONNER

                               of alabama

                    in the house of representatives

                      Wednesday, December 6, 2006

  Mr. BONNER. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor the life of a young 
man from the First Congressional District of Alabama who recently made 
the ultimate sacrifice in defense of his country while helping to 
spread freedom abroad.
  Army SPC Chris Mason, a longtime Mobilian, was assigned to the 1st 
Battalion, 505th Parachute Infantry Regiment, 3rd Brigade, of the 82nd 
Airborne Division based at Fort Bragg, NC.
  Chris joined the Army 2 years ago and comes from a family with a long 
and highly respected history of military service--his father, who 
served two tours of duty with the Marine Corps in Vietnam and completed 
a career in the Army, retiring with the rank of first sergeant, and his 
brother, an Army officer currently studying to become a chaplain.
  During his career in the Army, Specialist Mason set a standard of 
excellence and displayed the qualities of discipline, devotion, and 
dedication to country that are the hallmarks of men and women 
throughout the long and distinguished history of the American military.
  Following his 1994 graduation from Baker High School in Mobile, Chris 
became a professional rodeo clown with the Professional Rodeo Cowboys' 
Association. He also taught a commercial drivers license qualification 
course at Bishop State Community College. No matter what the task, 
Chris Mason undertook every challenge with a determination to succeed.
  Mr. Speaker, at this difficult time, it is only appropriate for us to 
pause and give thanks to God that there are still young men like Chris 
Mason.
  Chris's life and actions personify the very best America has to 
offer. I feel certain his many friends and family, as well as his 
comrades in the United States Army, while mourning the loss of this 
fine young man, are also taking this opportunity to remember his many 
accomplishments and to recall the fine gift they each received simply 
from knowing him and having him as an integral part of their lives.
  He was not only a physical presence in their lives but a spiritual 
leader in every sense of the word.
  Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to take a moment and pay tribute to 
SPC Chris Mason and his selfless devotion to not only our country and 
the freedom we enjoy, but to a people who are in the demanding but 
important stages of a new life--a new freedom--in their own land.
  Mr. Speaker, we should also remember his parents, Garland and Susie 
Mason, his brother, Garland Mason III, and his other relatives and many 
friends. Our prayer is that God will give them all the strength and 
courage that only He can provide to sustain them during the difficult 
days ahead.
  It was Joseph Campbell who said, ``A hero is someone who has given 
his or her life to something bigger than oneself.''
  Make no mistake, Chris Mason was not only a dedicated soldier who 
made the ultimate sacrifice serving in the uniform of his country, but 
he was also a true American hero. May he rest in peace.

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