On January 15, 2016, three Americans were kidnapped in the Dora neighborhood of Baghdad, Iraq. Russell Frost, Amr Mohammed, and Waiel El-Madaawy were held captive for 31 days while being beaten, tortured and starved. On February 16, the men were released and sent home physically and mentally battered.
My father, Russell Frost, lived every day of his life to the fullest. He became a military contractor after being laid off from Boeing December 2001. He wanted to provide his family with a better life while serving his country in the best way he knew how. He traveled the world, assisting the United States military in surveillance, mechanics, and engineering. He was proud of his career. Unfortunately, on November 30, 2017, my father succumbed to his injuries sustained while kidnapped.
According to a Congressional Research study, defense contractors account for 50% or more of the total military force in both Afghanistan and Iraq. These men and women put their lives on the line to offer support services to the United States military. More than 4000 contractors have died between 2001 and 2019 and hundreds have been kidnapped, some never recovered.
Military contractors are a profound tool for our military. Their selflessness and bravery runs parallel to the men and women in uniform. Because of this, their work should be appreciated and celebrated throughout our country.
I am proposing that Congress enact August 13th, my father’s birthday, as Military Contractor Appreciation Day as a way to honor and recognize those that provide such a vital service in our great nation’s military.