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HONORING BOUNTHIENG EGKHOUNMOUNG AS IOWAN OF THE WEEK
______
HON. CYNTHIA AXNE
of iowa
in the house of representatives
Friday, June 4, 2021
Mrs. AXNE. Madam Speaker, I rise today to honor Master Sergeant Bounthieng Egkhounmoung, a recently retired veteran, as Iowan of the Week. Bounthieng, or BJ as he's known, retired last week from the 132nd Wing of the Iowa Air National Guard after over a total of 38 years in service to the country and the state of Iowa.
From the Marine Corps, Air National Guard, and the State of Iowa, BJ served his country through nearly four decades. He retires as a Master Sergeant from the 132nd Wing of the Iowa Air National Guard. The 132nd Wing, founded in 1941, has deployed in numerous conflicts throughout the world and played a critical role in our state's flood recovery over the last few decades. Their values of Integrity First, Service Before Self, and Excellence in All We Do was exemplified by BJ throughout his service.
As Asian Pacific American Heritage Month comes to an end, may we celebrate the diversity in our country and reflect on the challenges many in the Asian American and Pacific Islander communities still experience. BJ's exemplary service to our country and lived the military values of duty, honor, and country. To quote General MacArthur who was reflecting on his own 30 years of military service said ``Those three hallowed words (duty, honor, country) reverently dictate what you ought to be, what you can be, what you will be. They are your rallying points: to build courage when courage seems to fail; to regain faith when there seems to be little cause for faith; to create hope when hope becomes forlorn.'' Master Sergeant BJ embodied these values in his 38 years of service.
Our country is safe and our communities are secure thanks to the service of the over 20 million veterans and active service members that protect our nation, including BJ's service. As I rise today in honor of BJ, I encourage everyone to reach out to veterans and military families in your life, hear their stories, and give your thanks. I will continue to work across the aisle in Congress, such as my recently passed Sgt. Ketchum Rural Veterans' Mental Health Act, to ensure our veterans get the care they need and deserve.
It is my honor to recognize BJ for his nearly four decades of outstanding service to our country. I thank BJ for his service, and I hope he has an enjoyable retirement.
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SOURCE: Congressional Record Vol. 167, No. 97
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