[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 163 (2017), Part 5]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page 6215]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




RECOGNIZING THE LIFE OF FALLEN MISSISSIPPI SOLDIER MARINE CORPS MASTER 
                  SERGEANT (MSGT) SCOTT EUGENE PRUITT

                                  _____
                                 

                            HON. TRENT KELLY

                             of mississippi

                    in the house of representatives

                         Friday, April 28, 2017

  Mr. KELLY of Mississippi. Mr. Speaker, today I rise in memory of 
Marine Corps Master Sergeant (MSgt) Scott Eugene Pruitt who paid the 
ultimate sacrifice while defending our nation on April 28, 2012, during 
Operation Enduring Freedom. MSgt Pruitt was killed in action by enemy 
fire when his vehicle was struck by a roadside improvised explosive 
device while conducting combat operations in Nimroz Province, 
Afghanistan. This was his first deployment.
  MSgt Pruitt, a Gautier native, was assigned to I Marine Expeditionary 
Force Headquarters Group, I Marine Expeditionary Force, Camp Pendleton, 
California. MSgt Pruitt was a financial management Marine for 18 years 
and also an instructor with the Marine Corps Combat Service Support 
Schools. He volunteered to go on deployment with his junior Marines.
  MSgt Pruitt was honored for his sacrifice by family, friends, and 
fellow service members during a memorial service held at the base 
auditorium at Camp Johnson, a satellite installation of Marine Corps 
Base Camp Lejeune on May 31, 2012.
  ``He not only wanted to deploy as a Marine,'' said Lydia Hobson, MSgt 
Pruitt's mother, ``but as a human being. He wanted to help the people 
and children over there. When he got to Afghanistan, he asked me to 
send him crayons and coloring books for the children in the hospital 
because they didn't have the things American children had. He was a 
great man.''
  ``Pruitt never stopped surprising me,'' retired Master Sergeant Ron 
Scott, one of Pruitt's mentors said. ``I had a special bond with him. 
He grew from this young, wide-eyed kid to someone I called a brother.''
  MSgt Pruitt was awarded the Bronze Star and Purple Heart for his 
service and sacrifice. He was also recognized by the Marine Corps 
Combat Service Support School ``Wall of Heroes'' where his memorial 
frame was placed.
  The Mississippi Department of Transportation has designated a section 
of U.S. Highway 90 in Gautier as the Scott E. Pruitt Memorial Highway.
  MSgt Pruitt is survived by his daughters Jennifer and Jordyn, and his 
fiancee, Trisha Lane.
  MSgt Pruitt's dedication to protecting our nation will always be 
remembered.

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