Recognizing Dr. Rickey Lee Hurst with A Congressional Veteran Commendation

Floor Speech

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Mr. SESSIONS. Mr. Speaker, I rise to present Dr. Rickey Lee Hurst, of Nacogdoches, Texas, with a Congressional Veteran Commendation. His service to this Nation and community speaks to the best of Texas.

The son of a former B92 Pilot who flew during WWII, service to God, family and country runs deep within Rick and his family. While attending Texas Tech University, the war was raging in Vietnam. As many fine young American men did during that time, he registered for the draft without hesitation. His number was not called. He completed his education and training in dentistry and ultimately as an oral maxillofacial surgeon without pause. He then established his private practice in Nacogdoches, Texas, that operated from 1980 to 2022.

On September 11, 2001, America was attacked, and Ricky felt a deep call to go where he was needed most. He left his family, prosperity, and comfortable life in Nacogdoches, Texas, to volunteer for the U.S. Army at war. On September 18, 2002, he received a direct commission as a captain in the U.S. Army Reserve and just a year later was called to Active Duty for Operation Enduring Freedom. He served with the TF 44 MED/452nd Combat Support Hospital in Bagram, Afghanistan, and then later he was called again to Active Duty for Operation Iraqi Freedom during the surge in Iraq where he was responsible for all head and neck assessments and treatment in delivering care for U.S. soldiers, Marines, coalition forces, Iraqi Army Troops, Iraqi police, as well as injured civilians procedures and consistently made critical contributions to the surgical mission of the hospital and task force.

Ricky teaches Christian apologetics at Regents Academy and serves as a mentor to students and staff. He and his wife volunteer as tutors for children and adults in the community and they participate in Mission activities at home and abroad. He serves as an elder at Grace Bible Church in Nacogdoches and assists with the Regents Academy BIG Serve event every year, where students from Regents go out into the community and assist various non-profit organizations with area beautification and handyman-type repairs to their properties.

It is my honor to award Dr. Rickey Lee Hurst with a Congressional Veteran Commendation.

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