[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 159 (2013), Part 12]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page 17762]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




 HONORING FORT BENNING'S SARGENT PATRICK HAWKINS, PRIVATE FIRST CLASS 
 CODY PATTERSON, 1ST LIEUTENANT JENNIFER MORENO, SPECIAL AGENT JOSEPH 
                   PETERS, AND CORPORAL JOSHUA HARGIS

                                 ______
                                 

                       HON. LYNN A. WESTMORELAND

                               of georgia

                    in the house of representatives

                      Wednesday, November 20, 2013

  Mr. WESTMORELAND. Mr. Speaker, I come before you today to honor 5 of 
Fort Benning's own soldiers who courageously put their lives in harm's 
way so that we may live free.
  Fort Benning is home to about 1,500 Rangers of the entire 75th Ranger 
Regiment. They are an elite group of soldiers who perform specialized 
operations for the Army. Currently, the 3rd Battalion, 75th Ranger 
Regiment, as well as Rangers of the Regimental Headquarters and the 
Regimental Special Troop Battalion are deployed. I have a deep 
commitment to Ft. Benning, and once these Rangers pass through Ft. 
Benning, Georgia, they become part of our state's family.
  On October 6th, 5 of these brave Rangers were part of a mission gone 
wrong. Sargeant Patrick Hawkins, Private First Class Cody Patterson, 
1st Lieutenant Jennifer Moreno, and Special Agent Joseph Peters were 
killed by an improvised explosive device while conducting combat 
operations in Kandahar Province, Afghanistan, and Corporal Joshua 
Hargis was seriously injured.
  These soldiers came to Fort Benning from across the nation. They are 
sons and daughters, parents, and spouses, and loved by many. Their loss 
is felt across our nation and we thank them for paying the ultimate 
sacrifice.
  As we mourn the loss of these four soldiers, I also want to give 
thanks for the life of Corporal Joshua Hargis. Cpl. Hargis was injured 
in the same mission on October 6th, and is pictured here beside me. 
This photo has been nicknamed ``The Salute Seen Around the World'' 
because it shows the strong character of an American soldier.
  After hours of surgery, Cpl. Hargis' Commander held a small ceremony 
in the hospital to honor Cpl. Hargis with the Purple Heart Award. 
Doctors, nurses, fellow Rangers crowded the room to watch him receive 
the award. Despite his injuries, tubes, and intense pain, Cpl. Hargis 
still saluted his Commander when his Purple Heart Award was pinned on 
his hospital blanket. This act of determination despite pain embodies 
all that is a Ranger.
  I want to thank these 5 brave Rangers--Sgt. Patrick Hawkins, PFC. 
Cody Patterson, 1st LT. Jennifer Moreno, Special Agent Joseph Peters, 
and Cpl. Joshua Hargis--for their service and sacrifice. Joan and I 
send our prayers to their families and friends.
  God Bless America and God Bless our troops.

                          ____________________