This is not an official government website.
© 2026 PLEJ LC. All rights reserved.
Congressional Daily Record
This section is a tribute, commemoration, or district-facing statement. Extensions of Remarks are statements submitted for the official record, even if they were not spoken live on the floor.
Issued
July 20, 2026
People
0
No members linked from this section
Legislation
0
No linked legislation in this section
Committees
0
No linked committees in this section
Senate Holds
0
No hold activity linked here
Source Document
Connected Data
This section does not yet have linked people, bills, or committees in the reader view.
1 Helpful Term
Extensions of Remarks
Material lawmakers submit for the official record even when it was not spoken live on the floor.
Source Control
Reader mode is for comprehension. The linked government PDF is the official published source.
Download official Extensions PDFReturn to issue contextHON. MATT VAN EPPS
of tennessee
in the house of representatives
Mr. VAN EPPS. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor and pay tribute to a remarkable hero from Houston County, Tennessee, who answered the call of duty during a critical chapter in our Nation's history. As the years pass, the profound debt we owe to our Korean War veterans only grows.
Of the 6.8 million Americans who served during the Korean War era, fewer than 300,000 remain with us today. This generation, now largely in their nineties, represents a rapidly dwindling connection to a pivotal struggle for global freedom. It is our sacred obligation to ensure their stories are told and their sacrifices are never forgotten.
extraordinary service, sacrifice, and lifelong dedication of Harold Duane Smith. He represents the very best of Tennessee's Volunteer Spirit and the enduring resilience of the American servicemember.
Mr. Harold Duane Smith was born in Flint, Michigan, on May 14, 1935. He began his distinguished military career when he enlisted in the United States Navy on January 21, 1955. For more than two decades, he served his country with honor and distinction before retiring from active duty on February 1, 1976.
A testament to the daily perils of naval service, Mr. Smith recalls an incident during the Vietnam War while serving aboard the USS Kitty Hawk (CVA-63) in 1966 or 1967. A weapon-loading crew accidentally dropped a Mark 82 (Mk 82) 500-pound general-purpose bomb onto the flight deck, crushing its nose fuse. Displaying extraordinary composure under immense pressure, Mr. Smith successfully disarmed the damaged weapon, preventing what could have been a catastrophic explosion that threatened the ship and her crew.
Mr. Smith's commitment to national security did not end with his retirement from the Navy. On the very day he retired from active duty, he began civilian service with the Nuclear Weapons Laboratory, working in Albuquerque, New Mexico, and Tonopah, Nevada. For the next twenty years, until January 31, 1996, he served as an Explosive Ordnance Disposal technician, testing weapons systems and ensuring the safety and readiness of our Nation's strategic deterrent. His more than forty years of combined military and civilian service stand as a remarkable testament to his patriotism. Mr. Smith currently resides in Cumberland City, Tennessee.
service and proudly preserve their legacies in the United States Congress.