Recognizing Martell Swain, Jr.

Floor Speech

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Mr. BILIRAKIS. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize and honor the service and patriotism of one of my constituents, Martell Swain, Jr. (Master Sergeant Retired), who enlisted in the U.S. Army at age 17 in 1961. MSgT Swain's early training in the Army was in Infantry. In 1963, he was assigned to a unit that eventually became the famous Air Calvary Division. A year later, the status of his entire Brigade was changed to Airborne. All troops were required to become Paratroopers to remain with this unit. It was during this time he was promoted to Sergeant. In July of 1965 the entire Division was ordered to Vietnam by our President. This was the first Division to go to Vietnam as a unit. It was not the last. Serving two tours in Vietnam, Sergeant Swain was involved in extremely heavy combat, earning the coveted Combat Infantry Badge, Bronze Star with ``V'' for Valor, Meritorious Service Medal, numerous Air Medals, 2 Army Commendation Medals, 2 Vietnamese Cross of Gallantry with Palm, Vietnamese Civil Action Honor Medal, 2 Presidential Unit Citations, and other awards and medals.

Despite the fact that MSgT Swain never earned his high school diploma, he participated in many educational opportunities available through the military and became an instructor for Red Eye Air Defense Missile Systems and Anti-Tank Systems. Sergeant First Class Swain attended Drill Instructor School and served in that capacity for three years in Fort Jackson, South Carolina. His last assignment was as a Reserve Officer Training Corps instructor at Syracuse University, preparing Cadets for active duty as officers in the United States Army. While there, he was promoted to Master Sergeant. MSgT retired after 23 years of faithful service. In 2022 Master Sergeant (Retired) Swain was honored by the National Infantry Association with induction into the Order of Saint Maurice in the rank of Centurion. MSgT Swain will be presented with an honorary high school diploma from a high school in Citrus County this year. With immense gratitude, we congratulate him on this important honor and thank him for his many years of distinguished service to our country.

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