[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 157 (2011), Part 3]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page 4238]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




HONORING MEMBERS OF 3RD BATTALION, 135TH THEATER AVIATION BATTALION OF 
                           LEBANON, MISSOURI

                                 ______
                                 

                          HON. VICKY HARTZLER

                              of missouri

                    in the house of representatives

                       Wednesday, March 16, 2011

  Mrs. HARTZLER. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize the safe return 
of an 11-member section of the Missouri National Guard's Headquarters 
and Headquarters Company, 3rd Battalion, 135th Theater Aviation 
Battalion, of Lebanon, MO. I want to commend them for their selfless 
service and sacrifice over the past year of their deployment to Joint 
Base Balad, Iraq, in support of Operation New Dawn.
  They were tasked with providing 24-hour-a-day command and control, 
supervision, staff planning, personnel service and logistical support 
to all units attached to the theater aviation battalion. The unit used 
fixed-wing aircraft to provide services to a forward deployed aviation. 
This allowed for the air movement of cargo, personnel, and dignitaries 
from the United States, NATO, and Iraq.
  The section of returning Soldiers is commanded by Capt. Seth Everett, 
who lives in St. Louis, MO. Other members of the unit live in Lebanon, 
Eldon, Versailles, Linn Creek, Mountain Grove, Dixon, Liberal, Dexter, 
Hallsville, and Jefferson City. The unit was previously deployed to 
Balad in 2005.
  Without soldiers like those in the 3-135th, we would not enjoy the 
freedoms we have today, and I am eternally grateful for their service. 
It is only fitting that they return home safely to their families and 
loved ones.
  In closing, Mr. Speaker, I ask all my colleagues to join me in 
welcoming home the members of the 3-135th, and thanking them for their 
continued sacrifice as members of the Armed Forces.

                          ____________________