[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 160 (2014), Part 10]
[House]
[Page 14280]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




 HONORING THE LIFE AND SELFLESS SERVICE OF SERGEANT FIRST CLASS SAMUEL 
                          C. ``SAM'' HAIRSTON

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The Chair recognizes the gentleman from 
Florida (Mr. Miller) for 5 minutes.
  Mr. MILLER of Florida. Mr. Speaker, it is with profound sadness and 
gratitude that I rise to pay tribute to a fallen and decorated American 
hero.
  Army Sergeant First Class Samuel C. ``Sam'' Hairston of Houston, 
Texas, was killed on August 12, 2014, in Ghazni, Afghanistan, from 
injuries sustained when his unit was engaged while in support of 
Operation Enduring Freedom by enemy small-arms fire.
  Sergeant First Class Hairston was assigned to the 1st Battalion, 
504th Parachute Infantry Regiment, 1st Brigade Combat Team, 82nd 
Airborne Division, Fort Bragg, North Carolina.
  Born to Bernett and Josephine Hairston June 22, 1979, at Shaw Air 
Force Base, South Carolina, Sergeant First Class Hairston was raised in 
Shalimar, Florida, and graduated from Choctawhatchee High School in 
1997.
  Sergeant First Class Hairston wanted to follow in the footsteps of 
his father and brother by joining our Nation's Armed Forces. After 
pursuing a Division I football scholarship as defensive lineman at the 
University of Houston and earning a bachelor's degree in economics, he 
joined the U.S. Army in 2003 as an infantryman.
  Upon completion of the basic airborne course at Fort Benning, 
Georgia, he was assigned to 1st Brigade Combat Team, Fort Bragg, North 
Carolina, in August of 2013. He selflessly served four combat tours 
throughout his career, which included two tours in support of both 
Operation Iraqi Freedom and Operation Enduring Freedom.
  Sergeant First Class Hairston has been described as someone whose 
smile could light up a room, and to his wife Tawana and stepson Hayden, 
he was a loving and devoted husband and father.
  In terms of his military service, whenever he was thanked, he 
responded that serving our country was his choice and his service was 
so Americans can enjoy the freedoms that are all too often taken for 
granted.
  He took pride in every mission and never expected anything in return. 
``An exceptional noncommissioned officer and a valued member of our 
team,'' is how he was described by Lieutenant Colonel Chris 
Hockenberry, Hairston's battalion commander.
  Sergeant First Class Hairston's qualifications included the Ranger 
Tab, Combat Infantryman Badge, Pathfinder Badge, Military Master Free 
Fall Parachutist Badge, and the Army Parachutist Badge.
  Throughout his time in service, he was awarded the Bronze Star, 
Purple Heart, Meritorious Service Medal, Army Commendation Medal with 
three oakleaf clusters, Army Achievement Medal, Meritorious Unit 
Citation with two oakleaf clusters, Army Good Conduct Medal with two 
oakleaf clusters, the National Defense Service Medal, Afghanistan 
Campaign Medal with two campaign stars, Iraqi Campaign Medal with two 
campaign stars, the Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal, and 
the Global War on Terrorism Service Medal.
  Throughout his unwavering dedication to country, Sergeant First Class 
Hairston helped ensure that our constitutional rights were upheld and 
that our Nation was protected from harm, both here and abroad. His 
ultimate sacrifice will never be forgotten.
  To Sergeant First Class Hairston's loving wife Mrs. Tawana Hairston; 
his stepson Hayden; his parents Bernett and Josephine Hairston; his 
brothers Junnee Cardama, Broady Hairston, and T.J. Hairston; his entire 
family; and friends, my wife Vicki joins me in offering our sincerest 
condolences and prayers.
  Mr. Speaker, on behalf of a grateful United States Congress and 
Nation, I stand here to honor Sergeant First Class Sam C. Hairston and 
all of those heroes we have lost.
  May God continue to bless them, the men and women of our United 
States Armed Forces, and may God continue to bless the United States of 
America.

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