Media Center

Congressman David Scott (D-GA) visited with several wounded American soldiers, including Sgt. First Class Raleigh Heekin of Littleton, Colorado (pictured below), at the Landstuhl Regional Medical Center in Landstuhl, Germany near the Ramstein Air Base. Congressman Scott told the wounded soldiers, “I feel very honored and privileged to be here with each of you to personally say thank you and to express our heartfelt appreciation from a very, very grateful nation.”

Sgt. Heekin said he appreciated Congressman Scott’s visit and shared how he was wounded. Heekin said, “I was hit on February 22nd fighting in Ramadi. We were ambushed and hit by an IED and a rocket. Fighting was intense. My medic and driver were killed. I was hit in my leg and back, but I was able to help several of my buddies to safety.” Sgt. Heekin will be honored and awarded the Purple Heart for his heroic efforts.

Congressman Scott said, “The courage and dedication of our American soldiers in the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan are absolutely extraordinary. We deeply appreciate their courage in the face of this intense and fierce fighting.”

Congressman Scott stopped in Germany overnight to visit the wounded soldiers on the way home from his NATO trip, which included meetings in Brussels, Belgium, Paris, France, and Rome, Italy.