Congressional Veteran Commendation for Sergeant George Wood

Floor Speech

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Mr. FALLON. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize Sergeant George Wood of Blossom, Texas, and award him a Congressional Veteran Commendation. Sergeant Wood honorably served in the United States Army's 11th Armored Cavalry Regiment during the Cold War.

Sergeant Wood heeded the call to defend his nation and joined the Army in 1973 shortly after the all-volunteer force military recruitment model was announced. At first, he trained as a loader on the M60A1 main battle tank, but quickly grew passionate about operating air defense systems. Eventually, Sergeant Wood was sent to West Germany in 1974 to provide a watchful eye over the skies of the East German border in the event of an attack by the Soviet Union. His efforts upheld democratic values and freedom in Western nations and safeguarded our NATO allies against Soviet aggression.

After his discharge from the Army in 1977, Sergeant Wood worked as a welder's apprentice at the Lone Star Steel Company and as a Maintenance Planner at the Kimberly-Clark Corporation. Since 2012, he has served as the Chairman of the Red River Valley Veterans Memorial Museum board. Under his leadership, the Museum raised over a million dollars to build a beautiful memorial to commemorate local veterans for their service. Sergeant Wood also serves as the President and a firefighter for the East Post Oak Volunteer Fire Department and the President of the Lamar Electric Cooperative. He is a life member of the Blackhorse Association, a nonprofit that unites servicemembers and veterans of the 11th Armored Cavalry Regiment. In this role, he helps fundraise to provide scholarships for children of Blackhorse Troopers who were killed or wounded in defense of our nation. Sergeant Wood is a devoted man of faith, and he regularly attends the Novice Baptist Church in Paris.

I am honored to represent Sergeant Wood in Texas' 4th Congressional District. It is a privilege to award him the Congressional Veteran Commendation for his service to our Nation and to the people of North Texas.

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