[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 159 (2013), Part 11]
[Senate]
[Pages 16335-16336]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                         TRIBUTE TO CORY KLUMB

 Mr. TESTER. Madam President, I wish to honor Cory Allen Klumb, 
a veteran of the U.S. Army and the Army National Guard. Cory, on behalf 
of all Montanans and all Americans, I stand to say thank you for your 
service to this Nation. It is my honor to share the story of Cory's 
service, because no veteran's story should ever go unrecognized. Cory 
was born in Wisconsin in 1965. He joined the Army in January of 1986 
and reached the rank of sergeant when he was discharged in May of 1989. 
After a few years, Cory decided to use the veterans' education benefits 
he earned to attend Montana State University, a State he had only 
visited once before.
  In 1999, Cory got a job with the Montana Highway Patrol and decided 
to enlist in the Montana Army National Guard--10 years to the day after 
he was discharged from active duty. Cory was a member of the 143rd 
Military Police Detachment out of Belgrade. In 2003, his unit was 
deployed to Iraq to assist with Operation Iraqi Freedom.

[[Page 16336]]

  On April 13, 2004, Cory's convoy was traveling from Baghdad National 
Airport to their station when they were struck by an improvised 
explosive devise, or I-E-D. Fortunately, no lives were lost in that 
explosion, but Cory experienced permanent hearing damage. Two months 
later, the 143rd MP detachment returned to Montana. Cory left the 
National Guard in 2006 at the rank of staff sergeant.
  Today, he is a police sergeant in Bozeman, where he lives with his 
wife Kelly and his daughter Piper.
  Earlier this month, in the presence of Cory's family, it was my honor 
to present him with his Purple Heart Medal.
  This decoration--and the decorations that Cory has already received--
are small tokens, but they are powerful symbols of true heroism, 
sacrifice and dedication to service. This medal is presented on behalf 
of a grateful nation.

                          ____________________