[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 159 (2013), Part 5]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page 7379]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                A TRIBUTE TO CAPTAIN GAVIN KEITH SANDVIG

                                 ______
                                 

                            HON. TOM LATHAM

                                of iowa

                    in the house of representatives

                         Tuesday, May 21, 2013

  Mr. LATHAM. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize and congratulate 
Army National Guard Captain Gavin Sandvig for being named a recipient 
of the 2013 General Douglas MacArthur Leadership Award by the United 
States Army. Captain Sandvig is one of only six National Guard Officers 
nationwide to receive this prestigious award.
   The United States Army's General MacArthur Leadership Award is 
reserved for the most exemplary company grade officers in the nation 
who consistently demonstrate the ideals of ``duty, honor, and 
country.'' The winners of this great distinction are invited to an 
award ceremony at the Pentagon in Washington, DC. There they are 
presented with a bronze bust of General MacArthur, an engraved 
timepiece, and a Commendation Memorandum by the Army Chief of Staff.
   Before joining the Iowa Army National Guard in 1993, Captain Sandvig 
was raised in Eagle Grove, Iowa by his parents Wayne and Penny. He 
would go on to obtain his Bachelor of the Arts from Buena Vista 
University in Storm Lake and a Master's of Education from Graceland 
University in Lamoni amid his 20-year military career. In 2004, after 
11 years as an enlisted soldier and attaining the rank of Staff 
Sergeant, Captain Sandvig accepted his officer commission and was sworn 
in as a 2nd Lieutenant before completing Ordnance Officer Basic Course 
in 2005 and his Captain's Career Course in 2008. Through his time with 
the Guard, he has supported his state and country in multiple roles 
overseas, including a 2010 deployment to the rough terrain of 
northeastern Afghanistan. Captain Sandvig has earned numerous 
decorations for his service over the last two decades, including the 
Bronze Star, the Army Commendation Award, the Army Achievement Medal, 
and the Army Achievement Award.
   Beyond his normal service duties, Captain Sandvig has been involved 
in numerous organizations and activities to benefit several charitable 
organizations across Iowa. A resident of Ankeny with his wife Shannon 
and their sons Ben, Sam, and J.J., the Sandvig family has donated much 
of their time and money to organizations such as Veterans of Foreign 
Wars, the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation, United Way, Families 
of Iowa's Fallen, the American Legion, the American Cancer Society, Cub 
Scouts, Holy Trinity Lutheran Church, and various sport leagues in 
Ankeny. The Sandvig family has also donated financially to two separate 
families planning to adopt.
  Mr. Speaker, it is clear that Captain Sandvig's professional and 
private conduct truly reflects the General MacArthur Leadership Award's 
emphasis on duty, honor, and country. In the words of General 
MacArthur: ``Those three hallowed words reverently dictate what you 
ought to be, what you can be, what you will be. They are your rallying 
point to build courage . . . to regain faith . . . and to create hope . 
. .'' I can think of no better recipient for this great award than 
Captain Sandvig. His efforts embody the Iowa spirit, and I am honored 
to represent him in the United States Congress. I know that all of my 
colleagues in the House will join me in congratulating him for this 
achievement, thanking him and his family for their service and 
sacrifice, and wishing him continued success in the future. May God 
continue to watch over all of our soldiers and their families, across 
the world and here at home alike.

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