[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 162 (2016), Part 3]
[House]
[Pages 4122-4123]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




           HONORING THE MEMORY OF CAPTAIN JAMES T. DEAN, JR.

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The Chair recognizes the gentleman from 
Florida (Mr. Curbelo) for 5 minutes.

[[Page 4123]]


  Mr. CURBELO of Florida. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor the memory 
of Captain James T. Dean, Jr., an Army veteran from the Vietnam war.
  Jim was born in Louisville, Kentucky, in 1944. In 1962, he joined the 
Army and graduated from Officer Candidate School at Fort Sill, 
Oklahoma. He served in Korea with a Sergeant missile unit before being 
deployed to a beautiful place during an ugly time. He served in Vietnam 
from January 1968 to September 1969, serving with the 2nd Battalion, 
40th Field Artillery, of the 199th Light Infantry Brigade.
  A proud redleg, Jim received the Bronze Star with ``V'' device for 
heroism in ground combat, the Bronze Star with two oak leaf clusters 
for meritorious achievement in ground operations against hostile 
forces, the Purple Heart for wounds received in action, along with 
numerous other awards and decorations for his service.
  Following his service, Jim and his wife, Carla, moved to Naples, 
Florida, where he started several businesses before returning to his 
true passion, horticulture.
  Jim worked for the city of Naples as the assistant parks and parkway 
supervisor. He was proud to have played a significant role in the 
Naples-scape project to beautify the city.
  He was a civic leader, serving on the board of the Greater Naples 
Better Government Committee as well as the Marco Island Kiwanis. He was 
an ordained elder within the Presbyterian Church, and he and Carla were 
members of the Collier County Republican Executive Committee.
  Jim also battled bladder cancer and, with Carla and other friends, 
formed the Bladder Cancer Foundation of Florida to raise awareness.
  Sadly, Jim succumbed to bladder cancer and passed away last month, on 
March 23. His name will not appear on the Vietnam Veterans Memorial 
wall; however, make no mistake about it, like too many other survivors, 
Jim was a casualty of the war due to his exposure to Agent Orange.
  Recently, the National Institute of Medicine forwarded to the VA that 
``there is limited or suggestive evidence of an association between 
chemicals of interest and bladder cancer.''
  Adding bladder cancer to the list of medical conditions that qualify 
veterans for a presumption of exposure to Agent Orange would allow 
veterans easier access to critical healthcare benefits.
  Unfortunately, it is too late for Jim, but many Vietnam veterans 
continue to suffer from this disease. I call on VA Secretary McDonald 
to approve this designation so our Vietnam war veterans can receive the 
help that they have so solemnly earned.
  I know I speak on behalf of the entire Congress and a grateful Nation 
to express our deepest condolences to his widow, Carla; daughter, 
Michelle; and his many friends and loved ones. I pray for God's mercies 
upon them as they cope with their pain.

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