[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 157 (2011), Part 9]
[Senate]
[Page 13325]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                         ADDITIONAL STATEMENTS

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                        TRIBUTE TO GARY SONSTENG

 Mr. TESTER. Mr. President, today I honor Gary Sonsteng and his 
service to the United States of America during the Vietnam war.
  Gary enlisted in the U.S. Navy at the age of 17.
  As a boatswain mate second class, Gary was assigned to the U.S.S. 
Talladega for several years. After a stint in Japan, Gary served on 
patrol boats in the Mekong Delta in Vietnam for a little over a year.
  In 1971, after 6 years of wartime service, Gary quietly returned to 
his home in Butte, MT, where he worked as a miner and a truck driver 
for more than 30 years.
  Gary is a modest man. He never asked for recognition for his service 
in Vietnam. And through all these years, that recognition of his valor 
and service slipped through the cracks.
  In working with my office, we discovered that Gary never received the 
medals he earned decades ago. Gary insists his service was, quote, 
``nothing extraordinary.'' I, along with millions of Americans and the 
U.S. military, see it differently.
  Last month, I had the honor of presenting Gary Sonsteng with a Combat 
Action Ribbon, and a Navy Commendation Medal with a Combat Valor 
Device. This Navy Commendation Medal is reserved for ``sustained acts 
of heroism or meritorious service.''
  It was also my honor to present Gary a Presidential Unit Citation 
Ribbon, an award earned for displaying gallantry and determination 
under extremely difficult and hazardous conditions.
  Last month I also presented to Gary: A Vietnam Service Medal with one 
silver star and four bronze stars, the Navy Unit Commendation Ribbon, 
and the Vietnam Campaign Medal with 1960 Device and Discharge Button.
  These six medals are a long overdue addition to the prestigious 
medals Gary has already received for his service to America: the 
National Defense Service Medal, the Meritorious Unit Commendation 
Ribbon with one silver star, and the Naval Reserve Meritorious Service 
Medal.
  All of these medals are presented on behalf of a grateful nation. 
They may be small tokens, but they are powerful symbols of true 
heroism. Sacrifice. And dedication to service.
  Gary, I join all Montanans and all Americans in saying thank 
you.

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