Recognizing Derrick Van Orden

Floor Speech

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Mr. NEHLS. Mr. Speaker, today, I rise to honor a good friend and colleague, Representative Derrick Van Orden, a former Navy SEAL, combat medic, and fellow Wisconsinite.

While traveling in Iowa, Mr. Van Orden's combat training kicked in to help save an 11-year-old boy. He and his wife, Sara, were on Interstate 35 outside of Osceola when they heard a large boom. A minivan had collided with a semitruck attempting to reenter the interstate. They immediately turned around and rushed to the scene.

Upon arrival, Mr. Van Orden found a young boy with severe injuries. The young boy's calf was completely ripped apart, and he had an arterial bleed on his right wrist.

Without hesitation, Mr. Van Orden pulled from his suitcase two pairs of socks, which he fashioned into makeshift tourniquets to stop the bleeding in the boy's arm and leg.

With the assistance of two other people who were at the scene, Mr. Van Orden was able to cut seatbelts, a windshield wiper, and a piece of metal to make makeshift tourniquets to stop the bleeding of the young boy until the ambulance arrived.

Without the swift actions of Mr. Van Orden, along with those also on the scene, the young boy probably would have died.

May the actions of Mr. Van Orden and the folks who assisted in saving the young boy inspire all Americans to lend a helping hand to those in need. You truly never know how far an act of kindness, big or small, can go.

Mr. Speaker, Derrick, Representative Van Orden, is with us here. He should have a cape. He is Superman. I applaud Derrick. Well done.

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