Alan Babin, A True Texas War Hero

ALAN BABIN, A TRUE TEXAS WAR HERO -- (House of Representatives - March 29, 2004)

The SPEAKER pro tempore (Mr. Burgess). Under a previous order of the House, the gentleman from Texas (Mr. Carter) is recognized for 5 minutes.

Mr. CARTER. Mr. Speaker, tonight I stand here to recognize one of Texas's finest soldiers and a true Texas hero. On March 31, 2003, Alan Babin of the First Battalion, 325th Airborne Infantry Regiment started his second day of war. On that day, the third platoon, a platoon that he had recently joined, was working to secure a bridge on the Euphrates River near Samawah when enemy fire intensified and a soldier took a shot in the head. Alan, who was a paratrooper medic, gave up cover and sprinted the 20 meters to aid the soldier. In that sprint, Alan took a shot in the belly. That single action has warranted Alan the title of war hero; a purple heart, a bronze star medal with V for valor. However, neither Alan's brave action nor the rewards that followed came at a small price.

Alan is a fourth generation military man. Both his mother and father served in the military. Now he is fighting a second battle, and it is a long battle. He is fighting that battle from a hospital room.

Today he has undergone over 70 surgeries. He has battled severe infection, meningitis, and stroke. Alan lay on the battlefield for 3 hours in pain until he was evacuated to the USS Comfort where he received excellent medical treatment by the folks there and very loving people that took care of him; but in the process, he suffered a stroke, and this infection grew rampant in his entire abdominal cavity. Most people did not think Alan was going to make it. The doctors said, if you are people of faith, you need to begin to pray.

My colleagues need to understand Alan's family. His mother, Rosy, and his dad, Alan, and his sister Christy, they went to the task. Rosy started e-mailing her friends and relatives and neighbors in Round Rock, Texas, and in the rest of Texas; and this spread throughout the entire country until thousands of people began to pray for this young man and to send encouragement.

When we got Alan finally here at Walter Reed, he was still with an exposed abdominal cavity, which had to be washed every night to fight the infection, and this 23-year-old man was fighting that battle with his mother by his side, and she has vowed not to leave his side until he is well. His little sister came up here to visit him. His dad was here by his side. Now, these folks, along with the folks back in Round Rock, Texas, are helping Alan battle through this terrible tragedy.

Alan continues to persevere daily, and he is overcoming all of the odds and the doctors say, whatever you are doing, keep doing it. These obstacles are being overcome. Just the other day I ran into Rosy in church and she told me, Alan actually picked up his glasses and put them on his own nose. That shows his motor skills are coming back from the stroke. That little victory was a huge thing for his mother. They have closed his wounds; the infection is going away. He has come from months and months in bed to therapy sessions. In the doctors' eyes and in the generals' eyes, this young man has overcome the worst odds that anybody can overcome. Now, each day it is a blessing that he continues to recover.

His service and his sacrifice has not gone unnoticed. The folks back home, knowing that Alan would not be able to climb stairs, the folks in Round Rock, Texas, the builders and contractors went and built a room on their two-story house at ground level so that Alan will be able to negotiate to and from his bedroom when he gets to come home. The whole community is behind this family.

During his stay at Walter Reed Hospital, he was visited by many, many people, including President Bush, Vice President Cheney, Secretary of State Colin Powell, Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger, Members of Congress, and numerous other military officials. I was there when he was awarded his medals, and one could see what was important in this young man's heart, because every time they called him paratrooper, his eyes sparkled and one could tell that he knew that they were talking about something of which he was proud.

Today is almost the anniversary of that tremendous wound that Alan suffered. He is recovering, through the grace of God and some wonderful medical people across this country. He is now back at least in Texas undergoing therapy, recovering every day, only because he and his family are true heroes who support the effort of this country and are proud of the service of their son. Alan, along with his family, serves as an inspiration for his fellow soldiers, as well as his fellow Texans. We in Texas are very proud of Alan and we say, God bless America and God bless Alan for his sacrifice. Alan Babin is a Texas hero.

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