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Congressional Daily Record
This section is a tribute, commemoration, or district-facing statement. It mentions members such as Pablo José Hernández. Extensions of Remarks are statements submitted for the official record, even if they were not spoken live on the floor.
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July 2, 2026
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Extensions of Remarks
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Download official Extensions PDFReturn to issue contextHONORING COLONEL JOHN D. SAMPLES UPON HIS RETIREMENT FROM THE UNITED
STATES ARMY
HON. PABLO JOSE HERNANDEZ
of puerto rico
in the house of representatives
Thursday, July 2, 2026
Mr. HERNANDEZ. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor Colonel John D. Samples, Garrison Commander of United States Army Garrison Fort Buchanan, as he concludes his distinguished military career and transitions to a well-deserved retirement. It is both a privilege and an honor to recognize a leader whose service has left an indelible mark on our island, our military community, and the broader Caribbean region.
Puerto Rico has a deep and proud military tradition. Our sons and daughters have served in every major conflict in American history, and the bonds between the people of Puerto Rico and the United States Armed Forces run generations deep. Fort Buchanan, Sentinel of the Caribbean and the Army's only installation in Puerto Rico and the Caribbean, stands as a symbol of that enduring relationship, and Colonel Samples understood that responsibility from the moment he assumed command.
record, impressive as both are. It was his genuine investment in the people and the place entrusted to his care. He approached his command not as a temporary assignment, but as a calling. He walked into communities, built relationships, and worked to ensure that the men and women under his charge, and the veterans and military families who depend on Fort Buchanan, were seen, heard, and supported. In a role that could have been administrative, he chose to be present.
and deeper in its ties to the communities surrounding it. He recognized that the strength of an installation is inseparable from the strength of its relationships: with local government, with civic organizations, with veterans' groups, and with the families who sacrifice alongside those who serve. He nurtured those relationships with consistency and with purpose.
Fort Buchanan. As the Army's stronghold in the Caribbean, the installation serves not only the people of Puerto Rico, but also those of the United States Virgin Islands and the broader region. He stewarded that mission with seriousness and vision, ensuring Fort Buchanan remained a place of readiness, resilience, and genuine service.
For all of this, the people of Puerto Rico are grateful. We are grateful for the years Colonel Samples devoted to this island, for his professionalism, his steadiness, and his care. We are grateful to his family, who shared in the sacrifices that military life demands and who made their home among us. Their presence here has been a gift, and their departure leaves a void that speaks to their level of devotion.
Mr. Speaker, when we speak of public service at its finest, we speak of people like Colonel John D. Samples, individuals who give more than is asked, lead with more than authority, and leave every place better than they found it. Fort Buchanan is better because of his command. Puerto Rico is better because of his presence.
people of our island, I offer Colonel Samples our deepest gratitude, our highest respect, and our warmest wishes for his next remarkable chapter.