Tribute to Commander Elizabeth McDonald Mooring

TRIBUTE TO COMMANDER ELIZABETH MCDONALD MOORING

Mr. LAUTENBERG. Mr. President, I rise today to recognize a great American and a true military heroine who has honorably served our country for over 22 years in the U.S. Navy Nurse Corps: Commander Elizabeth McDonald Mooring.

She was born in Rahway, NJ, and grew up in Bridgewater, NJ. CDR Mooring began her military career as a staff nurse at
National Naval Medical Center, Bethesda, MD. She quickly rose through the ranks and served at naval bases throughout the world, including Naval Hospital Newport, RI; Naval Hospital Okinawa, Japan; Branch Medical Clinic, Sewells Point, Norfolk, VA; and varied assignments at the Naval Medical Center Portsmouth, VA. Following in her father's footsteps, Seaman Eugene Bernard McDonald, CDR Mooring and her sister, Patricia, joined the Navy Nurse Corps, while her brother Sean joined the Seabees in the Naval Reserve.

CDR Mooring adeptly served as the medical officer recruiter at the Commander Naval Reserve Force, Philadelphia, PA. For 2 years she consistently achieved her medical recruiting goal for the States of New Jersey and Pennsylvania. For 2 years CDR Mooring served in the Naval Reserve and drilled at Naval Air Station, Willow Grove, NJ. She was one of the first women to serve aboard the USS John F. Kennedy, CV-67, and provided medical support during the rededication of the Statue of Liberty. Because of her clinical excellence and professionalism she was assigned to the presidential support team for President Ronald Reagan.

It is only fitting that for her final assignment, she came home to New Jersey. CDR Mooring served as the Officer in Charge of the Branch Medical Clinic at Naval Air Engineering Station Lakehurst, NJ, and Assistant Officer in Charge at the Branch Medical Clinic, Naval Weapons Station Earle, Colts Neck, NJ. She was integral to the critical medical support mission of the Naval Weapons Station during Operation Enduring Freedom and Operation Iraqi Freedom. During Operation Iraqi Freedom, 83 percent of all weapons used, were loaded from the Naval Weapons Station Earle, NJ.

In each assignment, CDR Mooring excelled and met every challenge, and was rewarded with greater responsibilities and opportunities. She is an experienced leader, administrator, clinician, educator, and mentor. Throughout her career she has been instrumental in providing navy medicine with the fine cadre of navy nurses, physicians, Medical Service Corps officers and hospital corpsmen serving today.

Above all, she is a stellar officer and leader who always put the welfare of her staff and patients first. CDR Mooring always went the extra mile to serve her country and her fellow man. Her performance reflects greatly on herself, the U.S. Navy, the Department of Defense, and the United States of America. I extend my deepest appreciation to Commander Elizabeth McDonald Mooring, on behalf of the United States, for her over 22 years of dedicated military service. Congratulations CDR Mooring and let me be one of the first to welcome you home to the State of New Jersey.