[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 158 (2012), Part 8]
[Senate]
[Page 10922]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




              TRIBUTE TO NORTH CAROLINA AIR NATIONAL GUARD

  Mr. THUNE. Mr. President, today I wish to honor six brave airmen with 
the North Carolina Air National Guard who died or were seriously 
injured while fighting South Dakota's White Draw Fire.
  Lt. Col. Paul Mikeal, Maj. Joseph McCormick, Maj. Ryan David, and 
Senior Master Sgt. Robert Cannon were killed July 1 when their C-130 
firefighting plane crashed near Edgemont, SD, as they battled a large 
forest fire in the Black Hills. Two crewmembers survived the crash but 
were left in critical condition.
  Men and women in our armed forces put their lives on the line every 
day for their fellow servicemembers and for all Americans. They serve 
in the hope that these daily sacrifices will ensure a safer and more 
prosperous United States. Their actions are not in vain nor forgotten, 
and members of our armed services are continually in our thoughts and 
prayers.
  Airmen fighting these fires are necessarily exposed to dangerous 
conditions in order for firefighters on the ground to have the chance 
to contain these wildfires. The importance of these domestic actions by 
the Air National Guard cannot be overstated. They are fighting to save 
our homes, our businesses, and our communities from devastating fires, 
often flying in very dangerous terrain.
  The names of the fallen airmen will be added to a memorial at the 
unit's headquarters and their service likewise praised. Great Americans 
such as these continue to answer the call whenever and wherever they 
are needed. Our hearts go out to the families and friends of Paul, 
Joseph, Ryan, and Robert, and I ask my colleagues to join me in 
commemorating the lives of these men.

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