[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 152 (2006), Part 18]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page 23785]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                       TRIBUTE TO CHARLIE CAMPION

                                 ______
                                 

                        HON. MARILYN N. MUSGRAVE

                              of colorado

                    in the house of representatives

                       Thursday, December 7, 2006

  Mrs. MUSGRAVE. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor the patriotism and 
military service of Mr. Charlie Campion of Loveland, Colorado.
  He joined the United States Navy on September 7, 1954, and was sent 
to Great Lakes, Illinois, for boot camp.
  In 1958, Mr. Campion's ship, the USS Summit County, pulled into 
Chennai, Korea where Mr. Campion served as a gunner's mate during his 
first enlistment. Shortly after arriving, Mr. Campion and 2 other 
soldiers were ordered to drive a jeep from the base to pick up supplies 
at a different military supply location off base.
  While on this mission Mr. Campion's jeep hit an explosive device 
throwing out the Lieutenant and the Seaman, flipping the jeep and 
himself upside down in the canal nearby. The jeep ended up landing on 
Mr. Campion and he sustained several injuries, including a broken back.
  At the age of 21, Mr. Campion re-enlisted and started his studies at 
the Hospital Corps School in Great Lakes, Illinois. Mr. Campion went on 
to serve a total of 16 years in the United States Navy as Hospital 
Corpsman and FMF Corpsman with the Marine Corps.
  For ``conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity in action'' while serving 
with Company C, 1st Battalion, 3rd Marines, 3rd Marine Division near 
the village of La Chau, Republic of Vietnam on 5 June 1965, Mr. Campion 
was awarded the Silver Star. While giving medical aid to several sick 
villagers, Mr. Campion was attacked by other villagers at the same time 
that his platoon was attacked by the Viet Cong Fighting his way free, 
he ran to the platoon position and immediately began medical treatment 
of two wounded Marines.
  In order to protect the wounded men, Mr. Campion seized an automatic 
rifle from one of the men and turned it against the enemy, killing one 
Viet Cong and driving the others to flight. After the wounded men were 
evacuated he fearlessly exposed himself to heavy enemy fire so he could 
render aid to a critically wounded Marine and assist in his evacuation.
  Additionally, he was awarded four good conduct medals and 12 further 
medals for his service to our country in the Korean War and in Vietnam.
  Mr. Speaker, I am grateful for Mr. Campion's selfless service to our 
Nation. I urge my colleagues to join me in recognizing a man worthy of 
our honor, a true American hero, Mr. Charlie Campion.

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