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[Extensions of Remarks]
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From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
IN RECOGNITION OF SOC (SEAL) EDWARD GALLAGHER, USN
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HON. DUNCAN HUNTER
of california
in the house of representatives
Tuesday, January 7, 2020
Mr. HUNTER. Madam Speaker, since the inception of our great Nation,
our freedoms were conceived and protected by those willing to defend it
with their own blood. It is in the spirit of those warriors that I rise
today, to celebrate 20 years of distinguished and faithful military
service by one of the greatest warriors our Country has ever known,
Special Operations Chief Petty Officer (SEAL) Edward Gallagher, USN.
In 1999, Gallagher enlisted into the United States Navy from Fort
Wayne, Indiana, graduating from Basic Training at Navy Recruit Training
Command Great Lakes, Illinois. After successfully completing Navy
Hospital Corpsman ``A'' school in 2000, he was assigned to 1st
Battalion, 8th Marines Company, 2nd Marine Division in Camp Lejeune,
North Carolina. He also graduated from the Marines Corps Scout Sniper
Course in 2002. While assigned to the Marine Corps, Gallagher completed
two deployments that included service in Africa, Albania, Iraq and
Kosovo.
Always desiring to push himself beyond the normal limits of others,
Gallagher joined Basic Underwater Demolition/SEAL (BUD/S) class 252 in
2005 for 24 weeks of arduous training. After BUD/S, he immediately
attended SEAL Qualification Training and Special Operations Combat
Medic Course. Upon completion of those courses, Gallagher earned his
Navy SEAL Trident and was selected to be stationed at SEAL Team ONE.
Later, he was hand chosen to train new SEAL candidates as a BUD/S
Instructor at Naval Special Warfare Center. This was followed by orders
to be stationed at SEAL Team SEVEN, where he was promoted to the rank
of Chief Petty Officer. For his service in the Naval Special Warfare
community he has received two Bronze Stars with ``V'' for Valor, a Navy
and Marine Corps Commendation Medal, three Navy and Marine Corps
Achievement Medals with ``V'' for Valor, a Global War on Terrorism
Expeditionary Medal and a Combat Action Ribbon.
In 2017, Chief Gallagher returned home after completing his eighth
combat deployment. Instead of receiving a hero's welcome, he became the
target of a tyrannical witch-hunt. This witch-hunt was led by a few
junior SEALs, a completely incompetent NCIS Agent and Navy Judge
Advocate General (JAG) lawyers that were hoping to make their careers
off court-martialing Gallagher. Despite the numerous illegal and
underhanded tactics by the prosecution, Chief Gallagher was found not
guilty of all major charges by a jury of his peers on July 1, 2019.
Later, President Donald Trump personally intervened to stop the Navy's
harassment towards Gallagher and restored his rank to Chief Petty
Officer. Realizing the poor treatment and errors that they had made,
the United States Navy allowed Chief Gallagher to officially retire on
November 30, 2019.
While no one could blame Chief Gallagher if he was angry about the
horrible manner in which he was treated at the end of his career, he
instead has decided to live free of anger and has forgiven the
individuals who have wronged him. I believe this is due to Eddie's
faith in God and an amazing woman that keeps him grounded, his loving
wife, Andrea. She and their three beautiful children, Treven, Ava and
Ryan, have faithfully supported Eddie throughout his numerous
deployments and were his biggest advocates during the Navy's foolish
witch-hunt. Their love along with his brother, Sean Gallagher, and his
parents, Lieutenant Colonel (Retired) Joseph and Melissa Gallagher have
strengthened Eddie throughout his military service; and I congratulate
them as well on this special occasion. I
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am proud to share in the celebration of Special Operations Chief Petty
Officer (SEAL) Edward Gallagher's military career and as he and his
family step into the next chapter of their lives, I ask my colleagues
in this chamber to join me in wishing the Gallagher family fair winds
and following seas.
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