[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 162 (2016), Part 12]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page 15925]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




         HONORING SPECIALIST FOURTH CLASS TECHNICIAN GARY ESTES

                                 ______
                                 

                           HON. TODD C. YOUNG

                               of indiana

                    in the house of representatives

                       Tuesday, December 6, 2016

  Mr. YOUNG of Indiana. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor Specialist 
Fourth Class Technician Gary Estes for his service to the United States 
Army and to his country. Born in rural, central Kentucky SP4(T) Estes 
entered the U.S. Army in the fall of 1966. He was trained as a 
reconnaissance specialist, and then was deployed to Vietnam as a member 
of an armored cavalry regiment. In addition to executing reconnaissance 
missions, SP4(T) Estes served as a machine gunner. While aboard an 
armored vehicle, Estes and his unit came under fire from enemy forces. 
Estes suffered severe injuries to his shoulder, face, and hand, and had 
to be airlifted from the battlefield to a hospital in Japan. This event 
earned him the Purple Heart for his heroism in battle. After two months 
spent recovering from his wounds, SP4(T) Estes volunteered to return to 
Vietnam to complete his tour.
  In addition to the Purple Heart, SP4(T) Estes was honored as a 
``Blackhorse Trooper,'' a distinction reserved for select, elite 
soldiers, for his exceptional skill in the cavalry regiment. His 
heroism and desire to serve his country also earned him the National 
Defense Service Medal, the Vietnam Campaign Medal, the Vietnam Service 
Medal, and a Combat Infantryman Badge.
  After his service abroad, SP4(T) Estes returned home and dove into 
community service. He is a member of American Legion Post 233, and has 
held various executive board positions, including Post Commander. Estes 
also served as Commander of the local Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW). 
SP4(T) Estes uses his volunteer spirit to help serve veterans and 
members of his community.

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