RECOGNIZING MASTER SERGEANT JAMES P. HOGG, U.S. ARMY, (RET.), WITH A CONGRESSIONAL VETERAN COMMENDATION

On 2026-10-13, Representative Pete Sessions (R-TX-17) delivered a floor speech titled "RECOGNIZING MASTER SERGEANT JAMES P. HOGG, U.S. ARMY, (RET.), WITH A CONGRESSIONAL VETERAN COMMENDATION" in the House.

RECOGNIZING MASTER SERGEANT JAMES P. HOGG, U.S. ARMY, (RET.), WITH A CONGRESSIONAL VETERAN COMMENDATION

Congressional Record, Volume 172 Issue 160 (Tuesday, October 13, 2026) [Congressional Record Volume 172, Number 160 (Tuesday, October 13, 2026)] [Extensions of Remarks] [Page E1068] From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [ www.gpo.gov ] RECOGNIZING MASTER SERGEANT JAMES P. HOGG, U.S. ARMY, (RET.), WITH A CONGRESSIONAL VETERAN COMMENDATION ______ HON. PETE SESSIONS of texas in the house of representatives Tuesday, October 13, 2026 Mr. SESSIONS. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize and honor James P. Hogg of Nacogdoches, Texas, as a recipient of the 2026 Congressional Veteran Commendation. Jim served in the United States Army for 21 years, retiring as Special Forces Master Sergeant in 2006. Jim's life reflects a remarkable commitment to service--first in uniform, and later through decades of dedication to his fellow veterans, their families, and communities across Deep East Texas. After graduating from high school in Livingston, Texas, he volunteered to serve in the United States Army. Over the course of 21 years of active- duty service, he distinguished himself as a member of an exceptionally select group of soldiers who served as an active-duty airborne Ranger, and Special Forces soldier. His military career included multiple combat deployments. He served during Operation Desert Shield and Operation Desert Storm with the 3rd Battalion, 505th Parachute Infantry Regiment, 82nd Airborne Division. He later deployed in support of Operation Enduring Freedom and Operation Iraqi Freedom with the 5th Special Forces Group (Airborne). His service was recognized with numerous awards and distinctions, including the Bronze Star Medal with Valor device, Meritorious Service Medal, six Army Commendation Medals, and twelve Army Achievement Medals. His military qualifications include the Combat Infantryman Badge, Combat Medic Badge, Expert Infantry Badge, Master Parachutist Badge, Special Forces Tab, Ranger Tab, Drill Sergeant Badge, British Jump Wings, and Bahrain Jump Wings. Jim's commitment to service did not end when he retired from the Army in 2006. From 2007 to 2009, he volunteered with the Texas State Guard, serving as Command Sergeant Major of the 1st Battalion, 2nd Regiment, Civil affairs. During that time, he and his fellow volunteers responded to the needs of Texans along the Gulf Coast during disaster-relief operations following Hurricanes Dolly, Gustav, and Ike. Jim has also continued his service through veteran organizations. He is a lifetime member of Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 3893 in Nacogdoches, where he served as Post Service Officer, and he is a member and former Service Officer of American Legion Post 86. Perhaps one of the most significant chapters of Jim's service came through his work as the Nacogdoches County Veterans Service Officer, a position he held from January 2020 through June 2026. In that role, Jim worked tirelessly to help veterans and their families navigate the often-complicated process of obtaining the benefits they had earned through their service. Through extensive research, diligence, and personal commitment, he helped veterans pursue VA claims and connect with benefits and resources available to them. Yet his service went far beyond the formal responsibilities of his position. He took veterans to medical appointments in Nacogdoches, Lufkin, Tyler, Longview, and Henderson. He worked with local organizations to help homeless veterans find shelter and coordinated with the Department of Veterans Affairs and local government programs to help secure long-term housing. He worked with local food-bank volunteers to help veterans and their families who were experiencing financial hardship obtain food. He connected veterans seeking employment with employers in the community. And when veterans were struggling with the burdens of their military experiences, he worked to connect them with assistance and renewed hope. On some occasions, he personally provided financial and material assistance to veterans and their families from his own resources. These acts of kindness were often performed quietly, without recognition or expectation of praise. They demonstrate a simple principle that has guided Jim throughout his life: when a veteran or a veteran's family needs help, he believes they should not be turned away. Even after retiring as the Nacogdoches County Veterans Service Officer, Mr. Hogg has continued answering the call to serve. Veterans he previously assisted continue to reach out to him, and veterans he has never met have also sought his guidance after being referred to by friends or family members he previously helped. His continued willingness to serve is a testament to the character of this veteran and to the values he learned growing up in Texas and reinforced throughout his military career. Jim served on the Deep East Texas Congressional Veterans Commendation Committee form 2023 to 2025. Mr. Speaker, James P. Hogg has spent much of his life serving others--first by defending our Nation in uniform, then by responding to Texans in times of disaster, and finally by standing beside veterans and their families when they needed an advocate. His record of military service is distinguished. His record of community service is extensive. But perhaps most importantly, his record demonstrates a lasting commitment to the men and women who have worn the uniform of the United States. It is my privilege to recognize James Hogg as a 2026 Congressional Veteran Commendation recipient and to thank him for his more than two decades of military service and his continued dedication to veterans and the people of Deep East Texas. Mr. Speaker, I ask my colleagues to join me in honoring James Hogg for his service, sacrifice, and enduring commitment to others. I am proud to recognize him today. ____________________