E1276 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — Extensions of Remarks July 18, 2012 

the Joint CREW Program Office, PMS–408, 

he served as the Director, Test and Evaluation 

and Principle Assistant Program Manager before arriving at JIEDDO. 

Today, one of the greatest threats faced by 

our service men and women is the improvised 

explosive device, TED. Our troops face an 

adaptive enemy with little regard for the sanctity of human life. As a Member of the House 

Armed Services Committee, I work closely 

with JIEDDO to help provide the necessary 

capabilities to protect our service men and 

women from the TED threat. JIEDDO has 

made significant strides to combat those dangers by not only reducing the effectiveness of 

IED attacks themselves, but also by targeting 

and eliminating the enemy networks that seek 

to use these devices to harm our troops. 

Captain Gaghan has contributed greatly to 

protecting the lives of our troops in Iraq and 

Afghanistan. At JIEDDO, he was initially responsible for leading all Counter-TED research and development efforts in support of 

our Combatant Commanders urgent needs. In 

this role, he developed and delivered numerous capabilitie3 that have enabled our forces 

to more effectively detect IEDs, jam radio-controlled initiators and identify Home Made Explosive precursors. Lieutenant General Michael Barbero, Director ofJIEDDO, quickly recognized Captain Gaghan’s strong leadership 

abilities and selected him to fill two key positions in the past year: JIEDDO’s Chief of Staff 

and Acting Deputy Director of Rapid Acquisition and Technology. Throughout his tenure at 

JIEDDO, Captain Gaghan’s tireless efforts and 

great dedication helped JIEDDO achieve its 

mission of rapidly providing Counter-IED capabilities in support of the warfighter to defeat 

the IED as a weapon of strategic influence. 

I am proud to share in the celebration of 

Captain Gaghan’s military career, and I join 

his colleagues in honoring his extraordinary 

leadership at JIEDDO and his distinguished 

military service. 

f 

IN HONOR OF THE LATE ARNOLD 

M. GOLDEN, SR. 

HON. DONNA M. CHRISTENSEN OF THE VIRGIN ISLANDS

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

Wednesday, July 18, 2012 

Mrs. CHRISTENSEN. Mr. Speaker, today I 

rise to pay tribute to the life of one of my constituents, the late Arnold M. Golden, Sr., who 

passed away at his home on St. Croix last 

Saturday. Arnold M. Golden was a Crucian 

gentleman and statesman, one who spent all 

of his life in service to his family and his community. 

Known to family and friends as ‘‘Morty’’, he 

distinguished himself as a Virgin Islands Senator, a St. Croix administrator, Commissioner 

of both the Departments of Public Works and 

Commerce under the Governor Juan Luis Administration, and the manager of the Sunny 

Isle Shopping Center. He served on many 

community groups and organizations to include the Knights of Colombus, League of 

Women Voters, Boy Scouts of America, Landmarks Society and AARP. 

Morty Golden was a community servant, 

dedicating himself to the betterment of our islands, especially St. Croix. He was among the 

generation of Virgin Islanders who guided the 

growth and development of the modern Virgin 

Islands, working to develop the tax system, 

the planning, land use and conservation laws, 

and the Virgin Islands National Guard. His 

most recent service of note was as a Delegate 

to the Fifth Constitutional Convention, where 

he advocated for transparent, workable government. 

I knew him as an elder statesman, always 

ready with words of wisdom on how to make 

our islands a better place to live and our government function in a way that served the 

needs of all its people. He was a champion of 

municipal government and of transparent government with more accountability to its citizens. He was a champion of good governance 

and for the further development of our territory 

through the adoption of its own Constitution. 

Arnold M. Golden was born on December 

13, 1931 in the town of Frederiksted to Louis 

R. and Violet (Pedersen) Golden. He was the 

eldest of 10 children and attended the St. 

Mary’s and St. Patrick’s Parochial Schools. He 

graduated from Christiansted High School in 

1949 and attended the Polytechnic Institute 

and UPRAT Mayaguez in 1949 and later the 

University of the Virgin Islands, where he pursued interests in engineering and management. 

Morty worked briefly at VICORP before 

being drafted into the U.S. Army, where he 

served 2 years of active duty, with one tour of 

duty in Korea. He was later Commissioned in 

the Armed Forces Reserves, and served with 

the Army Reserve Unit on St. Croix for a number of years. Later he was employed by A.C. 

Sanford as a land surveyor, where he worked 

on the construction of the Alexander Hamilton 

Airport. He was later employed as an appraiser by the Tax Assessor’s Office, assisting 

in the modernization of the office and tax system. 

In 1968, he was elected to the Virgin Islands Legislature and was instrumental in the 

passage of legislation to create the Planning 

Office, the Executive Budget Act, and land 

conservation legislation. He worked on legislation authorizing Governor Melvin Evans to secure the authority to activate a National Guard 

Unit in the Virgin Islands, as well as the Jr. 

ROTC units. 

Morty Golden was honored to serve in numerous positions under the administration of 

Governor Juan F. Luis to include: Administrator, Commissioner of Public Works, Commissioner of Commerce and Assistant to the 

Governor. He also served on many government boards and commissions. He also managed the Sunny Isles Shopping Center in between his government service. Upon his retirement in 1987, he returned to land surveying. 

He served the community in various community organizations to include the Catholic 

Social Center, the Knights of Columbus, the 

Boy Scouts, the League of Women Voters, 

Landmark Society, and AARP. He has been 

honored for his outstanding community service 

by the Jr. Chamber of Puerto Rico, the U.S. 

Army, the U.S. Navy, U.S. Postal System and 

Rotary Club of St. Croix West. 

Mr. Speaker, Arnold M. Golden’s most important role was as the patriarch of his beloved family. He was preceded in death by his 

son, Louis M. Golden, and leaves behind his 

beloved wife of 56 years, Carmen Maria 

(Encarnacion) Golden, his children: Helen 

Marie Danielson, Violet Anne Golden, Peder 

Mark Golden, Carmen Louise Walker, and Arnold M. Golden, III, his grandchildren: Leroy E. 

Danielson, Jr., Janelle Marie Plummer, Louis 

M. Danielson, Lionel Danielson, David M. 

Thomas, Jasmine L. Walker, Benjamin Walker, IV, Christina Walker, Nico Golden, Carla 

Golden and Juma Golden and four greatgrandchildren: Leroy E. Danielson, III, Alimah 

M. Danielson, Daylon Lee Tank Yuk and 

Louriz M. Danielson. 

Mr. Speaker, the life and legacy of Arnold 

M. Golden is one of which the entire U.S. Virgin Islands community is very proud. He is an 

example of public service at its best. My family 

and staff extend our condolences to his family 

and friends. May he rest in peace. 

f 

A TRIBUTE TO HILLSIDES 

HON. ADAM B. SCHIFF OF CALIFORNIA

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

Wednesday, July 18, 2012 

Mr. SCHIFF. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to 

honor Hillsides, a nonprofit organization for 

abused and emotionally disturbed children, in 

Pasadena, California upon its 100th Anniversary. 

In 1913, Evelyn Wile, a kindhearted young 

deaconess of the Episcopal Church, opened 

Hillsides Home for Children in Highland Park 

for 13 abandoned children that sought to reject the established approach of cold, uncaring 

institutions and provide a personal and empathetic community for homeless children. 

Ms. Wile’s vision of a campus of cottages 

where children could flourish in a country-like 

environment surrounded by sunshine, fresh 

air, and open space became a reality in 1918, 

when she moved the home from Highland 

Park to 17 acres in the San Rafael Hills of 

Pasadena, where it has remained to this day. 

The increase in space allowed Evelyn to build 

more residential cottages and an administration building, which was completed in 1927. 

Over the next 40 years, Hillsides Home for 

Children was a safe haven where children 

were the top priority. In the 1960s, Hillsides 

shifted focus from being an orphanage to becoming a center for abused and emotionally 

disturbed children. By the late 1970s, it had 

grown to include 14 on-campus buildings and 

2 satellite homes. Hillsides Education Center 

was established in 1982 to offer specialized 

instruction for students with behavioral challenges or learning disabilities, and the Family 

Center was created that same year to provide 

crisis intervention and parent education for atrisk families. Hillsides Home for Children’s 

name changed to Hillsides in 1999. In 2005, 

Hillsides Youth Moving On was established, a 

transitional living program for young adults 

leaving foster care. 

In the last century, Hillsides has grown tremendously from Ms. Wile’s original home that 

served 13 children. To date, Hillsides has rescued over 110,000 families and is recognized 

as a leader in children’s rights advocacy 

issues. Encompassing a comprehensive network of residential and community facilities 

that provide an unmatched depth and breadth 

of resources to at-risk children and families, 

Hillsides has pioneered techniques that have 

become standard practices and ranks among 

the region’s most respected and trusted organizations in the field. 


pwalker on DSK7TPTVN1PROD with REMARKS
July 18, 2012 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — Extensions of Remarks E1277 

I am honored to recognize Hillsides for its 

100 years of loving care and support to countless children and families and I ask all Members to join me in congratulating Hillsides for 

its remarkable achievements. 

f 

HONORING MELVIN YOUNG, JR. 

HON. BENNIE G. THOMPSON OF MISSISSIPPI

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

Wednesday, July 18, 2012 

Mr. THOMPSON of Mississippi. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor a determined young 

man, Mr. Melvin Young, Jr. 

Melvin Savelle Young, Jr. was born June 

28, 1994 in Vicksburg, Mississippi to the proud 

parents of Melvin Young, Sr. and Rhonda 

Morris Young. He is also the proud grandson 

of Bernice Profit of Hollandale, Mississippi and 

the late Emma Lee Dorsey of Rolling Fork, 

Mississippi. 

While in high school, Melvin was the runner 

up for Mr. South Delta High School, a member 

of the varsity football, baseball, and the track 

team. He also participated in the JROTC program. He is a faithful member of Salem Missionary Baptist Church where he is a devoted 

choir member. In conjunction with his hopes to 

positively impact his community, Melvin became a member of the Mayor Youth Council 

and has worked as a volunteer at the Sharkey 

County Tax Assessor and Collector Office. 

Melvin also volunteered in the emergency response efforts of the county to save public 

records during a flooding crisis; as a volunteer 

he worked to move official records to a secure 

location. 

In the fall Melvin plans to attend Mississippi 

Gulf Coast Community College in Perkinston, 

Mississippi where he will pursue a degree in 

Pre-Engineering. 

Mr. Speaker, I ask our colleagues to join me 

in recognizing Mr. Melvin Savelle Young, Jr. 

for his hard work and dedication in his efforts 

to achieve his goals. 

f 

PERSONAL EXPLANATION 

HON. W. TODD AKIN OF MISSOURI

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

Wednesday, July 18, 2012 

Mr. AKIN. Mr. Speaker, on rollcall Nos. 469 

and 470 I was delayed and unable to vote. 

Had I been present I would have voted ‘‘no’’ 

on rollcall No. 469, and ‘‘aye’’ on rollcall No. 

470. 

f 

OUR UNCONSCIONABLE NATIONAL 

DEBT 

HON. MIKE COFFMAN OF COLORADO

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

Wednesday, July 18, 2012 

Mr. COFFMAN of Colorado. Mr. Speaker, 

on January 20, 2009, the day President 

Obama took office, the national debt was 

$10,626,877,048,913.08. 

Today, it is $15,884,155,929,632.05. We’ve 

added $5,257,278,880,718.97 to our debt in 

just over 3 years. This is debt our nation, our 

economy, and our children could have avoided 

with a balanced budget amendment. 

f 

HONORING SERGEANT MAJOR 

TAMMY COON 

HON. GRACE F. NAPOLITANO OF CALIFORNIA

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

Wednesday, July 18, 2012 

Mrs. NAPOLITANO. Mr. Speaker, I along 

with Representative ISSA rise today to pay tribute to Sergeant Major Tammy Coon, United 

States Army. Sergeant Major Coon has served 

a distinguished career in the United States 

Army, spanning over twenty eight years. She 

has distinguished herself with exceptional meritorious service in a succession of positions of 

great importance and responsibility to the 

Army and the nation. She has culminated her 

military career in the Army’s Office of the 

Chief of legislative Liaison as a Congressional 

Legislative Liaison to the United States House 

of Representatives for the past 2 years. Additionally, she is the first Sergeant Major in the 

United States Army to serve as a Congressional Legislative Liaison to the House of Representatives. Over the course of the 28 years 

which she has spent in uniform serving her 

country, she has been cited by her command 

as exhibiting outstanding initiative, leadership 

and professionalism in all of her actions. In 

doing so, she has made significant contributions to the welfare of soldiers and their families, to say nothing of the service she has provided to the people of this nation. 

Sergeant Major Coon’s previous positions of 

significant leadership included: First Sergeant, 

Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 1st 

Space Brigade, Colorado Springs, Colorado; 

Chief, Enlisted Promotions, Human Resources 

Command, Alexandria, Virginia; Senior Enlisted Advisor, Directorate of Personnel, MultiNational Forces-Iraq (MNF–I), Baghdad, Iraq; 

Senior Enlisted Advisor, Special Management 

Division, Human Resources Command, Alexandria, Virginia; and Senior Enlisted Advisor 

for Soldier Programs/Community Recreation, 

Department of the Army, Alexandria, VA. 

Sergeant Major Tammy Coon served as a 

Congressional Legislative Liaison to the 

United States House of Representatives, 

Washington, DC. During this assignment she 

served as the primary point of contact for 70 

Members of Congress within the Pacific Region, which included California, Nevada, Hawaii, Guam, American Samoa and the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands. 

Additionally, she served as the Army House 

Liaison Division’s primary point of contact for 

Wounded Warrior Care issues and for the 

Mental Health and Invisible Wounds Caucuses, routinely interacting with Members of 

Congress and senior staffers. 

As First Sergeant, Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 1st Space Brigade, Colorado Springs, Colorado, she was responsible 

for discipline, health & welfare, safety, and 

training of 120 active duty, reserve, and National Guard soldiers as well as 130 Department of the Army Civilians. Even though the 

unit was deployed in five separate locations, 

Sergeant Major Coon ensured that the soldiers, civilians, and families were well cared 

for. 

Sergeant Major Tammy Coon served as the 

Chief, Enlisted Promotions, Human Resources 

Command, Alexandria, Virginia. She managed 

the Department of the Army’s enlisted promotion system, affecting Army enlisted soldiers worldwide. Her guidance and leadership 

were instrumental in the execution of over 

50,000 promotions annually, while markedly 

increasing the efficiency of the promotion 

process. Additionally, Sergeant Major Coon reviewed and provided input for regulatory guidance revisions. She routinely proposed new 

initiatives and prepared correspondence on 

behalf of the President, Congress and Department of Army Senior Leadership. 

As the Senior Enlisted Advisor, Directorate 

of Personnel, Multi-National Forces-Iraq 

(MNF–I), Baghdad, Iraq, she was the principal 

advisor for all enlisted personnel readiness 

and Human Resource management issues for 

150,000 U.S. military and 13,000 members 

from 25 Coalition Countries deployed in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom. During this 

time she developed, synchronized, and implemented personnel policies and training that 

impacted enlisted members throughout the 

Iraqi theater. 

As the Senior Enlisted Advisor, Special 

Management Division, Human Resources 

Command, Alexandria, Virginia, Sergeant 

Major Coon was responsible for the manpower 

management and strength management of enlisted personnel assigned to Special Mission 

Units (SMU) and Special Access Programs 

(SAP) which support national security objectives. SGM Coon compiled, analyzed, and produced personnel statistical information for all 

enlisted career management fields quarterly 

reviews ensuring that these units were properly manned in order to execute missions directed by the National Command Authority. 

While serving as the Senior Enlisted Advisor 

for Soldier Programs/Community Recreation, 

Department of the Army, Alexandria, Virginia, 

she coordinated and implemented Soldier Programs for 84 United States Army Garrisons 

and had oversight of a $40 million budget. 

She co-authored and analyzed strategies and 

surveys for various Army initiatives and served 

as lead trainer for all Soldier programs across 

the Army, training over 30,000 Soldiers and civilians. 

Sergeant Major Coon is the perfect representative of the United States Army. We 

have gotten to know Sergeant Major Coon as 

the ‘‘soldier with a smile’’. She brings an enjoyment and enthusiasm to serving her country and representing the Army that is unparalleled in the halls of Congress. We are grateful 

for the advocacy Sergeant Major Coon has 

done on behalf of the physical and mental well 

being of soldiers and their families. Sergeant 

Major Coon has provided us with advice and 

counsel on issues affecting wounded warriors 

and their families that has lead to legislative 

action improving wounded warrior care and 

mental health care. We particularly appreciate 

the work Sergeant Major Coon has done with 

our staff in providing them with the materials, 

briefings and support they need to work on 

issues affecting the Army. 

Sergeant Major Coon’s dedication to duty 

and superior leadership has left an indelible 

mark on the United States Army, the soldiers 

with whom she has served, and the Congress 

of the United States. Her actions, in over 28 

years of military service, are in keeping with 

the finest traditions of the United States Army. 


pwalker on DSK7TPTVN1PROD with REMARKS