[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 163 (2017), Part 4]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page 5749]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




  RECOGNIZING THE LIFE OF FALLEN MISSISSIPPI SOLDIER ARMY SPECIALIST 
                      (SPC) WILLIAM ANTHONY BLOUNT

                                  _____
                                 

                            HON. TRENT KELLY

                             of mississippi

                    in the house of representatives

                        Thursday, April 6, 2017

  Mr. KELLY of Mississippi. Mr. Speaker, today I rise in memory of Army 
Specialist (SPC) William Anthony Blount who paid the ultimate sacrifice 
while defending our nation on April 7, 2010, in Mosul, Iraq when his 
vehicle was attacked with an improvised explosive device. He was 21 
years old and was serving with the 1st Battalion, 64th Armor Regiment, 
2nd Brigade Combat Team, 3rd Infantry Division of Fort Stewart, GA. His 
commanding officer, 1LT Robert Wilson Collins was also killed in the 
attack.
  SPC Blount joined the military in 2009 after graduating from Petal 
High School in Petal, Mississippi. Following his death, the SPC William 
Anthony Blount Memorial Scholarship was established at Petal High 
School.
  Nate McRae, SPC Blount's brother-in-law said his brother was 
extremely honorable. All of his commanding officers said he was an 
amazing soldier and that his loss was keenly felt.
  The procession of SPC Blount's body from the Pine Belt Regional 
Airport to Moore Funeral Home, led by Mississippi Highway Patrol 
officers and Petal officials, travelled from Interstate 59 to Evelyn 
Gandy Parkway to Petal High School along Mississippi Highway 42. With 
flags and posters in hand, residents lined the streets, and students 
were released from school to view the procession.
  SPC Blount is survived by his wife Amanda and his daughter Avery 
Elizabeth Blount. He is also survived by parents, Billy and Kay Blount, 
and his siblings, Laken Blount and Lori McRae.

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