[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 160 (2014), Part 11]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page 15984]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




    IN TRIBUTE TO SAMUEL BAEZ ON HIS INDUCTION INTO THE CONNECTICUT 
                         VETERANS HALL OF FAME

                                 ______
                                 

                           HON. JOE COURTNEY

                             of connecticut

                    in the house of representatives

                       Tuesday, November 18, 2014

  Mr. COURTNEY. Mr. Speaker, when deployed abroad our men and women in 
uniform face some of the most challenging, and adverse conditions 
possible--often staring down death or forced to cope with the loss of 
friends and comrades in arms. To help deal with such trauma, 
servicemembers frequently rely on the men and women of the chaplain's 
corps to provide spiritual, emotional and mental guidance through these 
tough times. This week, Samuel Baez, of Waterford Connecticut, is being 
inducted into the Connecticut Veterans Hall of Fame for his lifelong 
commitment to helping both active soldiers and veterans find meaning, 
purpose and religious guidance while in and out of uniform.
  In 1962, while deployed to Vietnam, Sam led the memorial service for 
the first operational deaths of a group of Marines in DaNang. The names 
of these seven soldiers are now engraved on panel one of the Vietnam 
War Memorial Wall in Washington, DC.
  Despite seeing such horrors during wartime, Sam continued to serve 
the military community, veterans, and civilians long after retiring 
from service. He traveled the world and helped counsel individuals of 
various backgrounds and religious faiths. Sam was able to translate his 
experiences in war to help orphans and the elderly both at home and 
abroad.
  Today, Sam remains active in the veterans community, serving as both 
a chaplain, counseling individual soldiers and veterans, as well as 
frequently guest speaking to larger groups at a variety of events. Sam 
and his wife have also opened their home to cadets from the Coast Guard 
Academy in New London as parental sponsors to provide respite from the 
rigorous academic environment on campus and to augment their 
educational experience.
  For his tireless devotion to supporting the mental and emotional 
well-being of American service members, I am proud to recognize Samuel 
Baez and wish him the best during his induction into the Connecticut 
Veterans Hall of Fame.

                          ____________________