Andrew K. Baker Department of Veterans Affairs Clinic

Floor Speech

Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of S. 2159, a bill to rename the Department of Veterans Affairs community-based outpatient clinic in Middleburg, Florida, the Andrew K. Baker VA clinic.

Chief Petty Officer Baker was a respected naval aircrewman, antisubmarine warfare chief, and combat rescue swimmer. He served on the USS Carl Vinson, CVN-70, and USS Coral Sea as a ship's serviceman.

He was a graduate of Search and Rescue Swimmer School in Pensacola, and Fleet Replacement Aircrewman training at Naval Air Station Jax.

While assigned to Helicopter Antisubmarine Squadron 3, or HS-3, he served as the training and operations chief. Tragically, he lost his life while on a training mission off the coast of North Carolina in 1997, along with three of his fellow crewmen, when their H-60 Sea Hawk crashed into the sea.

He dedicated 17 years of service to our Nation's Navy and was responsible for training numerous warfighters.

In the aftermath of this training accident, the Navy reviewed many of its training policies, and Chief Baker continues his legacy by potentially saving future aircrewmen lives. Naming this clinic after Chief Baker will serve as an inspiration and a tribute to his service.
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Mr. ELLZEY. Mr. Speaker, I encourage my colleagues to support this bill, and I yield back the balance of my time.

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