[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 159 (2013), Part 9]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page 13150]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                   IN RECOGNITION OF COLONEL ALAN ORR

                                  _____
                                 

                           HON. DUNCAN HUNTER

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                         Friday, August 2, 2013

  Mr. HUNTER. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize a true patriot and 
mentor, not only to myself, but to all the Marines that served with 
him, Colonel Alan Orr. Col Orr recently retired from the United States 
Marine Corps last week on July 26, 2013. While he may be hanging up his 
service uniform, Col Orr will continue to serve those who have 
sacrificed so much in defense of our country in his role as President 
and Founder of Combat Marine Outdoors.
  Col Orr graduated from the University of Michigan and then went off 
to Officer Candidate School where upon completion he was commissioned 
as an officer in the United States Marine Corps. Col Orr was an 
outstanding artillery officer, commanding several Firing Batteries, a 
Marine Corps Recruiting Station, an Artillery Battalion, and an 
Artillery Regiment. It was during this period that I had the distinct 
honor of serving with Col Orr when he was my Battalion Commander in 
2004.
  Col Orr went on to graduate from the Marine Amphibious Warfare School 
in Quantico, Virginia, and the Field Artillery Officer Advanced Course 
in Fort Sill, Oklahoma. He is also a graduate, with honors, from the 
Marine Corps Command and Staff College, the Army War College in 
Carlisle, PA, and holds several Masters degrees. In addition, Col Orr 
has numerous combat tours from Operations Desert Shield and Desert 
Storm, to Somalia and Operation Iraqi Freedom.
  But just as he has distinguished himself in combat and with his 
Marines in distant battlefields, his love for our Marines, sailors and 
soldiers extended from the front lines to the hospitals where our 
wounded warriors recover, and to life after the fighting has ended. Col 
Orr, along with a group of devoted hunters, ranch owners and patriots, 
has shown to our wounded heroes that excitement and adventure doesn't 
end with their battle wounds.
  In 2005, after visiting wounded Marines from the 1st Marine Division 
at Brooke Army Medical Center, Col Orr and other founding members 
created Combat Marine Outdoors, an organization that not only 
accelerates the recovery process, but restores hope in our servicemen 
and women. In collaboration with thousands of contributors and over 50 
ranches, the Combat Marine Outdoors has provided well over 200 wounded 
veterans from Balboa Hospital to Walter Reed with the opportunity to 
hunt and fish. These outdoor experiences foster the opportunity to 
engage in a challenging experience that promotes teamwork and 
camaraderie. In many cases, these excursions facilitated a turning 
point in emotional recovery through a challenging experience that helps 
our wounded military men and women regain confidence through a sense of 
accomplishment.
  Col Orr is an accomplished professional, the most knowledgeable 
artillery officer I have ever known. But his impact to those Marines on 
and off the battlefield is immeasurable. I am honored to have served 
with Col Orr, a man who not only personifies military discipline, but 
exudes the compassion and love for our young warriors through a life of 
service above self
  I ask my colleagues join me in recognizing the exemplary military 
service of Col Alan Orr and his continued dedication to the young men 
and women of our Armed Forces.

                          ____________________