Sam Gibbons: “last Friday, the United States Air Force lost 12 brave airmen who specialized in combat search and rescue and special…”

“last Friday, the United States Air Force lost 12 brave airmen who specialized in combat search and rescue and special operations missions. These airmen were representatives of the very best of the United States Air Force. They were highly skilled and they were regularly deployed to remote corners of the globe, supporting America's national military strategy. Their unit, the 66th Helicopter Rescue Squadron, based in my district at Nellis Air Force Base, is only one of 2 such units in the United States Air Force. One can find the 66th and their sophisticated H-60 ``Pave Hawk'' helicopters, wherever the action is: Iraq, Saudi Arabia, Turkey; you name it, they are there. These men are part of a proud tradition of military professionals who dedicated their lives to the defense of our country. They paid the ultimate price for our freedom. Each and every American owes them a debt of gratitude for protecting the freedoms we all enjoy. Tomorrow, in a memorial service at Nellis, their families and peers will honor these heroes. Our thoughts and our prayers are with the families today and tomorrow. Mr. Speaker, these men lived up to the 66th Helicopter Rescue Squadron's motto, ``These things we do so that others may live.''”