[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 162 (2016), Part 7]
[Senate]
[Page 8977]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                       REMEMBERING MITCHELL WINEY

  Mr. DONNELLY. Mr. President, today, I wish to honor West Point Cadet 
Mitchell Winey of Chesterton, IN, who tragically passed away along with 
eight other soldiers during a military training accident at Fort Hood, 
Texas, on June 2. He was 21 years old.
  Mitchell was everything a parent hopes for in a son. He was kind, 
hard-working, and someone the community of Chesterton was proud to 
know. He was an honor roll student, captain of the soccer team, prom 
king, and class president for 4 years at Chesterton High School. 
Mitchell was a born leader, who lived his life in service to others. He 
was someone who inspired his friends and family to step outside of 
their comfort zones and try new things. He was also the friend who came 
home on leave and immediately visited a fellow student he used to 
tutor.
  In 2013, I had the honor of nominating Mitchell for the U.S. Military 
Academy at West Point, after he came to my office seeking to fulfill 
his dream of serving our country and becoming a West Point cadet. In 
his application for an academy nomination, Mitchell wrote, ``Attending 
one of the United States' service academies will help me grow to be the 
best officer I could become. Through all the rigorous leadership, 
communication, and military training, any of the service academies 
would help me grow to not only be the best person I could be, but the 
best officer I could possibly be.''
  At West Point, Mitchell was an emerging leader in his class and a 
dedicated cadet. Mitchell personified the ideals and values of West 
Point--duty, honor, and country--as he pursued a major in engineering 
management and excelled both academically and athletically as a member 
of the Ski Patrol and founding member of the newly formed freestyle ski 
team.
  The loss of Mitchell is felt by West Point, Chesterton, and the State 
of Indiana. He touched many lives and left an impact on all who knew 
him. Mitchell will be remembered not only for his selfless service but 
for his positive attitude, contagious smile, caring nature, love of 
life, as well as for the love he had for his family, friends, and our 
country.
  Mitchell is survived and deeply missed by his parents, Tim and Margo 
Winey, and his sister, Paige Winey-Scheuer. His loss is felt by his 
fellow cadets, the entire Chesterton community, and all who had the 
pleasure of knowing Mitchell. Let us always remember and emulate the 
shining example this dedicated, modest young man set for us, and honor 
him for his commitment to serving his fellow citizens. May God welcome 
Mitchell home and shed his grace on his family, friends, and fellow 
cadets.

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