1999CRE2013A HONORING A FALLEN DRUG WAR HERO
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[Congressional Record: October 1, 1999 (Extensions)]
[Page E2013]
From the Congressional Record Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:cr01oc99-56]
HONORING A FALLEN DRUG WAR HERO
______
HON. DAN BURTON
of indiana
in the house of representatives
Friday, October 1, 1999
Mr. BURTON of Indiana. Mr. Speaker, in March of 1998, Colombian
National Police (CNP) Captain Wilson Quintero left his base in San Jose
del Guaviare for the last time. As he took off in his Vietnam-era UH-1H
Huey helicopter, he saluted the ground crew, and left on his mission to
fly cover for U.S.-sponsored eradication spray planes. Something all
too familiar happened that day. Captain Quintero's aging chopper was
shot down by the terrorist group, the Armed Revolutionary Forces of
Colombia (FARC).
As his chopper was going down, Captain Quintero radioed for help, and
proceeded to crash-land his helicopter without severely injuring his
crew. Another helicopter landed to take away the injured CNP officers.
The helicopter had parts which were deemed to be salvageable, and the
decision was made to leave six CNP officers overnight to guard the
aging Huey. Captain Quintero chose to stay with his chopper, feeling it
was his responsibility.
At dawn the next morning, several CNP Hueys landed near the crash
site to pick up Captain Quintero. The sight they came upon was
gruesome. Three of the six CNP officers were found with their hands
tied behind their backs, face down with bullet holes in the back of
their heads. They had been executed by the FARC terrorists. Captain
Quintero and the others had been taken hostage by the FARC terrorists.
Over the next 18 months his family waited for any word that he was
alive. None came.
In early September 1999, Captain Quintero escaped from his FARC
terrorist captors. He stayed on the run through the triple canopy
jungles of northeastern Colombia for the next two weeks. The FARC,
fearing a successful escape, launched an all-out effort to find Captain
Quintero. Captain Quintero did not give-in easily. He was shot 35 times
in his last standoff, finally murdered by FARC terrorists. Two fellow
CNP counter-narcotics officers were also found executed near Captain
Quintero's body.
The CNP, who knew he was on the run, did everything in their power to
find him. Every ill-equipped helicopter and aging aircraft was given
the recovery of Captain Quintero as a top priority. Unfortunately these
aircraft were not able to find him in time.
Captain Quintero is survived by his wife, Carmen Elisa Quintero and
two-year old daughter Laura Andrea Quintero Nunez. I extend to his
family my deepest sympathy. Mr. Speaker, I ask that Congress take a
moment to recognize the service Captain Wilson Quintero has done for
our country. Captain Quintero is truly a hero. May he rest in peace.
____________________