[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 163 (2017), Part 6]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page 7755]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




HONORING THE DEDICATED SERVICE AND SELFLESS SACRIFICE OF STAFF SERGEANT 
                           MARK R. DE ALENCAR

                                 ______
                                 

                            HON. MATT GAETZ

                               of florida

                    in the house of representatives

                         Thursday, May 11, 2017

  Mr. GAETZ. Mr. Speaker, it is with both profound sadness and deep 
gratitude that I rise to pay tribute to a fallen decorated American 
hero. On April 8, 2017, Staff Sergeant Mark R. De Alencar, who was 
assigned to Bravo Company, 1st Battalion, 7th Special Forces Group, 
Eglin Air Force Base, Florida, tragically succumbed to injuries 
received from small arms fire in support of Operation Freedom's 
Sentinel in Nangarhar Province, Afghanistan. Staff Sgt. De Alencar was 
37 years old, but lived a lifetime marked by and full of service.
  Born in a U.S. Army hospital in Nuremburg, Germany, Staff Sgt. De 
Alencar's childhood followed his father's military career. Graduating 
from Joppatowne High School, Joppa, Maryland, in 1998, he then worked 
odd jobs before becoming a carpenter. But it was in 2009, that he 
choose to follow in his father's footsteps and joined the U.S. Army.
  After attending Basic Combat Training and Cannon Crewmember (13B) 
Advanced Individual Training (AIT) at Fort Sill, Oklahoma, Staff Sgt. 
De Alencar was assigned to Bravo Battery, 2nd Battalion, 11th Field 
Artillery Regiment, 2nd Stryker Brigade Combat Team, 25th Infantry 
Division at Schofield Barracks, Hawaii.
  After arrival, he was deployed in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom 
and Operation New Dawn. Staff Sgt. De Alencar later attended Ranger 
School, graduated, and re-classed as an Infantryman (11B). During his 
time at Schofield Barracks, he served as Fire Team Leader, Rifle Squad 
Leader, and attended multiple training events with partnered forces 
throughout the Pacific; including Australian Jungle Operations, 
Operation Cobra Gold in Thailand, and multiple rotations to the 
National Training Center in Fort Irwin, California.
  In September 2016, Staff Sgt. De Alencar graduated from the Special 
Operations Qualification Course earning the qualification as a Weapons 
Sergeant (18B) and was assigned to Bravo Company, 1st Battalion, 7th 
Special Forces Group (Airborne) located at Eglin Air Force Base, 
Florida.
  Staff Sgt. De Alencar's military education includes Basic Leaders 
Course, Advanced Leaders Course, Jungle Operations Course, Ranger 
School, Airborne School, Air Assault School, Special Forces 
Qualification Course, and Survival Evasion Resistance and Escape 
School.
  Staff Sgt. De Alencar's awards and decorations include the Army 
Commendation Medal with five Oak Leaf Clusters, Army Achievement Medal 
with 6 Oak Leaf Clusters, Meritorious Unit Citation, Army Good Conduct 
Medal, National Defense Service Medal, Iraqi Campaign Medal with two 
Campaign Stars, Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, Non Commissioned 
Officer Professional Development Ribbon, Army Service Ribbon, Overseas 
Service Ribbon, Expert Infantryman's Badge, Special Forces Tab, Ranger 
Tab, B Badge, and the Drivers Badge.
  As exemplified by his extraordinary heroism, Staff Sgt. De Alencar's 
life stands as a testament that freedom is not free, and his legacy 
will echo in time as an example of the ultimate sacrifice made in the 
name of freedom. On behalf of a humble and grateful Nation, I hope the 
De Alencar family will find solace in knowing their support, love, and 
counsel helped make him the hero he became both in uniform and as a 
father. I pray that God will be with Mark's wife, Natasha; sons, 
Rodrigo and Marcos; stepson, Deshaun; daughter, Tatiyana; stepdaughter, 
Octavia and all their family and friends during this time of great 
mourning and may God continue to bless the United States of America.

                          ____________________