[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 163 (2017), Part 14]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page 19678]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




          HONORING THE LIFE OF COL. WELSEY L. FOX, USMC (RET.)

                                 ______
                                 

                         HON. ROBERT J. WITTMAN

                              of virginia

                    in the house of representatives

                       Tuesday, December 12, 2017

  Mr. WITTMAN. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor the life of Col. Wes 
Fox. Col. Fox enlisted in the United States Marine Corps in 1950 at the 
start of the Korean War to begin his 43-year career. Wes served 16 
years as a noncommissioned officer before commissioning as a second 
lieutenant and retiring as a colonel.
  Col. Fox valiantly served the nation and became a recipient of the 
Medal of Honor for his actions in Vietnam. He led his men through heavy 
fire, even picking up the weapon of a Marine killed in action, to 
continue fighting the enemy. Col. Fox sustained severe injuries from 
shrapnel, continued to lead his Marines, and called in air support. 
After the battle was over, Fox refused medical treatment, set up an 
supervised a defensive perimeter, and remained until all the Marines 
were evacuated. According to his Medal of Honor citation, ``his 
indomitable courage, inspiring initiative, and unwavering devotion to 
duty in the face of grave personal danger inspired his Marines to such 
aggressive actions that they overcame all enemy resistance and 
destroyed a large bunker complex.'' Col. Fox retired from the Marines 
in 1993 with decorations including the Bronze Star and Purple Heart.
  After retirement, Col. Fox served as the Deputy Commandant of First 
Battalion in the Corps of Cadets at Virginia Tech. Col. Fox authored 
two books: ``Marine Rifleman: Forty-Three Years in the Corps (Memories 
of War)'' and ``Six Essential Elements of Leadership: Marine Corps 
Wisdom from a Medal of Honor Recipient.'' I am honored to have known 
Wes and to have served as a witness to the countless lives he touched 
through his selfless service and leadership. He is survived by his 
wife, Dottie; three daughters; four brothers; four sisters; and nine 
grandchildren.
  Mr. Speaker, I ask you to join me and countless others as we 
recognize the many contributions of Colonel Wesley L. Fox.

                          ____________________