H5628 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — HOUSE September 18, 2013 Major Ferguson was the commander When he observed two insurgents car- personal bravery saved many lives, and of a helicopter monitoring an emer- rying away one of his men, this staff our Nation is forever grateful for his gency call from wounded passengers of sergeant charged their position, killing service. a downed helicopter under heavy at- one enemy and wounding the other. He f tack. Without hesitation, Major Fer- then carried his comrade away from HONORING SPECIALIST FOURTH guson volunteered to respond to the the exposed position and began to ad- CLASS JOHN PHILIP BACA call despite warnings to stay clear of minister first aid before his squad the area. caught up to provide security. (Mr. COTTON asked and was given Major Ferguson displayed superior It is for his extreme heroism and permission to address the House for 1 flying skill by landing his aircraft valor that I am proud to honor and re- minute and to revise and extend his re- under heavy fire. And although the hel- member the actions of Staff Sergeant marks.) icopter sustained severe damage as the Salvatore A. Giunta. Mr. COTTON. Mr. Speaker, I rise wounded men boarded, Major Ferguson f today to honor the heroic efforts of Specialist Fourth Class John Philip flew his crippled aircraft to safety. HONORING TECHNICAL SERGEANT Baca of the . That day, Major Ferguson saved the CHARLES HENRY COOLIDGE lives of five fellow servicemen with his Specialist Baca was a member of the brave and selfless act. (Mr. FLEISCHMANN asked and was 1st Cavalry Division, the ‘‘First It is for his outstanding display of given permission to address the House Team.’’ His was award- bravery that I am proud to honor and for 1 minute.) ed for extraordinary bravery in action Mr. FLEISCHMANN. Mr. Speaker, I remember the actions of Major Fred- on February 10, 1970, in Vietnam. On rise today to honor the heroic efforts of erick Edgar Ferguson. that February day, a platoon from Spe- Signal Mountain, Tennessee, resident Thank you, Major Ferguson. cialist Baca’s company came under Technical Sergeant Charles Henry Coo- f enemy fire. Upon realizing his team lidge of the United States Army. Tech- could be of assistance, Specialist Baca HONORING SPECIALIST FOURTH nical Sergeant Coolidge was with the jumped into action. He led his unit CLASS FRANK A. HERDA 36th Infantry Division and was awarded through enemy fire to a position with- the Medal of Honor for conspicuous (Mr. RENACCI asked and was given in the patrol’s defensive perimeter. But gallantry in action on October 24, 1944, permission to address the House for 1 before they were able to attack, an minute and to revise and extend his re- near Belmont-sur-Buttant, France. As Technical Sergeant Coolidge led a enemy grenade was thrown directly marks.) platoon to cover part of the 3rd Bat- into their unit. Specialist Baca covered Mr. RENACCI. Mr. Speaker, I rise talion, they ran into an enemy force the grenade with his helmet and fell on today to honor the heroic efforts of and engaged in a fierce firefight. With it, absorbing its blast. His quick action Specialist Fourth Class Frank A. Herda no officer present, Technical Sergeant bravely saved eight of his fellow sol- of the United States Army. Coolidge assumed command of the new diers from death or serious injury. Specialist Herda was with Company replacements and led his men through It is for this brave act and his unwav- A, 506th Infantry Regiment of the 101st 3 days of hard fighting. Armed with a ering courage that I am proud to honor Airborne Division and was awarded the bazooka, he advanced within 25 yards the actions of Specialist Fourth Class Medal of Honor for extreme bravery in of the tanks before it failed to func- John Philip Baca. action on January 29, 1968, in Vietnam. tion. Then, gathering as many hand f When five enemy soldiers charged the grenades as he could, he inflicted heavy position held by Specialist Herda and HONORING STAFF SERGEANT casualties upon the enemy. CLINTON ROMESHA two fellow soldiers, one of the It is for his superior leadership and attacker’s grenades landed amongst bravery that I am proud to honor and (Mr. CRAMER asked and was given the men. Without hesitating, Specialist remember the actions of Technical Ser- permission to address the House for 1 Herda threw himself on it, shielding geant Charles Henry Coolidge. minute.) the blast with his body. Specialist Mr. CRAMER. Mr. Speaker, I rise to f Herda’s valiant and selfless actions honor the heroic efforts of former Staff saved the lives of his two comrades. HONORING LIEUTENANT COLONEL Sergeant Clinton Romesha of the For his extraordinary bravery and LEO THORSNESS United States Army. Staff Sergeant commitment, I am proud today to (Mr. BROOKS of Alabama asked and Romesha was with the 4th Infantry Di- honor and remember the actions of was given permission to address the vision and awarded the Medal of Honor Specialist Frank A. Herda. House for 1 minute.) for his acts of gallantry and intrepidity f Mr. BROOKS of Alabama. Mr. Speak- at the risk of his own life in Afghani- er, I rise today to tell the story of a stan on October 3, 2009. HONORING STAFF SERGEANT courageous Congressional Medal of Attacked by an estimated 300 SALVATORE AUGUSTINE GIUNTA Honor recipient living in Alabama’s fighters, Staff Sergeant Romesha (Mr. ENYART asked and was given Fifth Congressional District. moved uncovered to conduct a recon- permission to address the House for 1 Pilot Lieutenant Colonel Leo naissance and seek reinforcements. minute and to revise and extend his re- Thorsness was on a mission over North Romesha took out one enemy machine marks.) Vietnam when he lost his wingman. As gun team and was wounded attempting Mr. ENYART. Mr. Speaker, I rise the crew members parachuted to the to take out the second. Despite his today to honor Staff Sergeant ground, Colonel Thorsness destroyed a wounds he continued fighting and di- Salvatore Augustine Giunta of the MIG–17 that was threatening their rected air support, resulting in the United States Army. Staff Sergeant safety. Low on fuel, Colonel Thorsness elimination of over 30 enemy fighters. Giunta was with the 173rd Airborne went in search of a refueling tanker, Clint, his wife Tamara, and their Brigade Combat Team and was awarded but upon hearing that the downed men three children—Dessi, Gwen, and the Medal of Honor for conspicuous were again threatened—this time by Colin—live in Minot, , gallantry in action on October 25, 2007, four MIGs—he immediately returned to and are the pride of our State. in . their aid. Low on fuel and perilously It is for his extraordinary heroism Staff Sergeant Giunta and his team close to crashing himself, Colonel and resolute commitment to his fellow were ambushed by heavy enemy fire. Thorsness attacked the four MIGs, soldiers that I am proud to honor Staff After sprinting for cover and returning damaging one, driving them away, and Sergeant Clinton Romesha. fire, Staff Sergeant Giunta raced to his saving the downed men and their res- f wounded squad leader to assist him. cuers. Then he flew further afield to re- While disregarding the withering fuel, aiding another plane that needed HONORING CORPORAL DUANE enemy fire, Staff Sergeant Giunta con- the emergency fueling station. EDGAR DEWEY tinued to assist the wounded and link Lieutenant Colonel Thorsness’ ex- (Mr. STEWART asked and was given up with men separated from his unit. traordinary heroism, self-sacrifice, and permission to address the House for 1

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