[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 152 (2006), Part 9]
[House]
[Page 11635]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                     STATEMENT HONORING ROGER ANDAL

                                 ______
                                 

                         HON. STEPHANIE HERSETH

                            of south dakota

                    in the house of representatives

                        Thursday, June 15, 2006

  Ms. HERSETH. Mr. Speaker, I want to take this opportunity to honor 
the life of Roger Andal, Vietnam veteran and former South Dakota 
Commander of the Disabled American Veterans, who died on Tuesday, June 
13, 2006, at the age of 57 from complications after surgery in his 
battle against Crohn's disease.
  I am deeply saddened by the news that my good friend Roger Andal has 
passed away. Roger lived a life of service to his fellow Americans. He 
was drafted in July 1969 and was sent to Vietnam that December where he 
served as a platoon medic with the Army's 4th Infantry Division. Roger 
served the next five months in the jungle around Pleiku in the central 
highlands of Vietnam before being hit with shrapnel from a rocket 
propelled grenade. He spent the following five months in military 
hospitals before being honorably discharged on April 13, 1971.
  Following his tour of duty in Vietnam, Roger became one of the most 
tenacious and most effective advocates for veterans that South Dakota, 
or the nation, has ever seen. Roger's cause was righteous and his will 
was unyielding. But even in those tough and passionate battles on 
issues he cared about, he also brought a caring spirit, a hearty laugh, 
and a ready hug that touched all who knew him. Roger relished a good 
battle, but he was as kindhearted as he was dogged in his pursuit of 
ensuring that the federal government keep its promises to our nation's 
veterans. As State Commander of the South Dakota Disabled American 
Veterans, he was a true leader, who fought the tough fights and led by 
example. He quietly suffered the effects of his own injuries while 
working so hard to ease the pain of others, including the physical and 
mental pain experienced by his fellow combat veterans years after their 
service to the country.
  Today, we remember and honor the noble service and the undeterred 
commitment of Roger Andal to the United States of America. I join with 
all South Dakotans in expressing my sympathies to his family. Roger's 
commitment to and sacrifice for our nation will never be forgotten. The 
lives of countless veterans and their families, including my own, were 
touched and helped by Roger's work, and we all have a heavy burden to 
carry in his absence. My thoughts and prayers are with Roger's wife 
Peggy, his children and all his family in this time of sorrow and I 
look forward to continuing to fight for those things Roger cared about 
so deeply.

                          ____________________