[Congressional Record Volume 156, Number 103 (Tuesday, July 13, 2010)]
[Senate]
[Pages S5779-S5781]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
HONORING OUR ARMED FORCES
Mr. LAUTENBERG. Mr. President, another 8 months have passed, and more
American troops have lost their lives overseas in Iraq and Afghanistan.
I wish to honor their service and sacrifice by including their names in
the Congressional Record.
Since I last included the names of our fallen troops on November 2,
2009, the Pentagon has announced the deaths of 313 troops in Iraq and
in Operation Enduring Freedom, which includes Afghanistan. They will
not be forgotten, and today I submit their names into the Record:
SSG Jesse W. Ainsworth, of Dayton, TX; SGT Donald R.
Edgerton, of Murphy, NC; SPC Joseph W. Dimock II, of
Wildwood, IL; SPC Robert W. Crow, of Kansas City, MO; PFC
Anthony W. Simmons, of Tallahassee, FL; PFC Michael S.
Pridham, of Louisville, KY; SPC Roger Lee, of Monterey, CA;
SSG Marc A. Arizmendez, of Anaheim, CA; SPC Jerod H. Osborne,
of Royse City, TX; SPC Keenan A. Cooper, of Wahpeton, ND; PFC
Jacob A. Dennis, of Powder Springs, GA; SGT Andrew J.
Creighton, of Laurel, DE; SSG Christopher F. Cabacoy, of
Virginia Beach, VA; PFC Edwin C. Wood, of Omaha, NE; SGT
Jordan E. Tuttle, of West Monroe, LA; PFC David Jefferson, of
Philadelphia, PA; SPC Clayton D. McGarrah, of Harrison, AR;
SPC Louis R. Fastuca, of West Chester, PA; Capt. David A.
Wisniewski, of Moville, IA; PFC Ryan J. Grady, of Bristow,
OK.
SGT Johnny W. Lumpkin, of Columbus, GA; SPC Morganne M.
McBeth, of Fredricksburg, VA; SFC Kristopher D. Chapleau, of
LaGrange, KY; Cpl Larry D. Harris Jr., of Thornton, CO; SPC
Matthew R. Hennigan, of Las Vegas, NV; SSG Brandon M.
Silk, of Orono, ME; SGT David W. Thomas, of St.
Petersburg, FL; SSG Eric B. Shaw, of Exeter, ME; SGT David
A. Holmes, of Tennille, GA; PFC Bryant J. Haynes, of Epps,
LA; SGT John M. Rogers, of Scottsdale, AZ; PFC Robert K.
L. Repkie, of Knoxville, TN; LCpl William T. Richards, of
Trenton, GA; PFC Russell E. Madden, of Dayton, KY; Cpl
Daane A. Deboer, of Ludington, MI; SPC Jared C. Plunk, of
Stillwater, OK; SPC Blair D. Thompson, of Rome, NY; Sgt
Joseph D. Caskey, of Pittsburgh, PA; SSG Edwardo Loredo,
of Houston, TX; 1SG Robert N. Barton, of Roxie, MS.
SPC Russell E. Madden, of Dayton, KY; PFC Anthony T.
Justesen, of Wilsonville, OR; Cpl Joshua R. Dumaw, of Spokane
Valley, WA; Cpl Kevin A. Cueto, of San Jose, CA; Cpl Claudio
Patino IV, of Yorba Linda, CA; SGT Andrew R. Looney, of
Owasso, OK; PFC David T. Miller, of Wilton, NY; 1SG Eddie
Turner, of Fort Belvoir, VA; SPC Jacob P. Dohrenwend, of
Milford, OH; LCpl Timothy G. Serwinowski, of North Tonawanda,
NY; SPC Scott A. Andrews, of Fall River, MA; SSG James P.
Hunter, of South Amherst, OH; PFC Benjamin J. Park, of
Fairfax Station, VA; SPC Nathan W. Cox, of Fremont, CA; PFC
Gunnar R. Hotchkin, of Naperville, IL; SPC Joseph D. Johnson,
of Flint, MI; CPT Michael P. Cassidy, of Simpsonville, SC; SN
William Ortega, of Miami, FL; SPC Benjamin D. Osborn, of
Queensbury, NY; LCpl Michael C. Bailey, of Park Hills, MO.
Cpl Jeffrey R. Standfest, of St. Clair, MI; SPC Blaine E.
Redding, of Plattsmouth, NE; SPC Charles S. Jirtle, of
Lawton, OK; SPC Matthew R. Catlett, of Houston, TX; SGT
Joshua A. Lukeala, of Yigo, GU; SPC Christopher W. Opat,
of Spencer, IA; SPC Brian M. Anderson, of Harrisonburg,
VA; SGT Mario Rodriguez, of Smithville, TX; SPC Christian
M. Adams, of Sierra Vista, AZ; CPL William C. Yauch, of
Batesville, AR; SGT Israel P. Obryan, of Newbern, TN; SSG
Bryan A. Hoover, of West Elizabeth, PA; SFC Robert J.
Fike, of Conneautville, PA; LCpl Gavin R. Brummund, of
Arnold, CA; LCpl Michael G. Plank, of Cameron Mills, NY;
SrA Benjamin D. White, of Erwin, TN; SSgt David C. Smith,
of Eight Mile, AL; 1st Lt. Joel C. Gentz, of Grass Lake,
MI; SSgt Michael P. Flores, of San Antonio, TX; SGT Erick
J. Klusacek, of Calcium, NY.
Sgt Zachary J. Walters, of Palm Coast, FL; Sgt Derek L.
Shanfield, of Hastings, PA; SGT Steve M. Theobald, of Goose
Creek, SC; SPC Brendan P. Neenan, of Enterprise, AL; Sgt John
K. Rankel, of Speedway, IN; 2LT Michael E. McGahan, of
Orlando, FL; Cpl Donald M. Marler, of St. Louis, MO; LCpl
Derek Hernandez, of Edinburg, TX; Sgt Brandon C. Bury, of
Kingwood, TX; 1LT Joseph J. Theinert, of Sag Harbor, NY; PVT
Francisco J. Guardado-Ramirez, of Sunland Park, NM; SPC
Jonathan K. Peney, of Marietta, GA; PFC Alvaro R. Regalado
Sessarego, of Virginia Beach, VA; PFC Jake W. Suter, of Los
Angeles, CA; LCpl Anthony A. Dilisio, of Macomb, MI; Cpl
Jacob C. Leicht, of College Station, TX; SGT Edwin Rivera, of
Waterford, CT; MAJ Ronald W. Culver Jr., of Shreveport, LA;
PFC Christopher R. Barton, of Concord, NC; SSG Amilcar H.
Gonzalez, of Miami, FL.
SPC Stanley J. Sokolowski III, of Ocean, NJ; PFC Jason D.
Fingar, of Columbia, MO; LCpl Philip P. Clark, of
Gainesville, FL; PFC Billy G. Anderson, of Alexandria, TN;
SSG Shane S. Barnard, of Desmet, SD; LCpl Patrick Xavier Jr.,
of Pembroke Pines, FL; SPC Joshua A. Tomlinson, of
Dubberly, LA; SSgt Richard J. Tieman, of Waynesboro, PA;
LTC Thomas P. Belkofer, of Perrysburg, OH; LTC Paul R.
Bartz, of Waterloo, WI; COL John M. McHugh, of West
Caldwell, NJ; SSgt Adam L. Perkins, of Antelope, CA; Cpl
Nicholas D. Paradarodriguez, of Stafford, VA; PO3 Zarian
Wood, of Houston, TX; SGT Denis D. Kisseloff, of Saint
Charles, MO; Sgt Joshua D. Desforges, of Ludlow, MA; Sgt
Donald J. Lamar II, of Fredericksburg, VA; Sgt Kenneth B.
May, Jr., of Kilgore, TX; Cpl Jeffrey W. Johnson, of
Tomball, TX; SPC Jeremy L. Brown, of McMinnville, TN.
Cpl Kurt S. Shea, of Frederick, MD; CPT Kyle A. Comfort, of
Jacksonville, AL; LCpl Christopher Rangel, of San Antonio,
TX; LCpl Joshua M. Davis, of Perry, IA; SSG Esau S.A.
Gonzales, of White Deer, TX; LCpl Richard R. Penny, of
Fayetteville, AK; SPC Wade A. Slack, of Waterville, ME; SPC
Eric M. Finniginam, of Colonia, FM; 1st Lt. Brandon A.
Barrett, of Marion, IN; MSG Mark W. Coleman, of Centerville,
WA; SGT Ralph Mena, of Hutchinson, KS; A1C Austin H. Gates
Benson, of Hellertown, PA; SGT Anthony O. Magee, of
Hattiesburg, MS; 1LT Salvatore S. Corma, of Wenonah, NJ; SGT
Nathan P. Kennedy, of Claysville, PA; SGT Keith A. Coe, of
Auburndale, FL; SGT Grant A. Wichmann, of Golden, CO; LCpl
Thomas E. Rivers, Jr., of Birmingham, AL; SGT Jason A.
Santora, of Farmingville, NY; SGT Ronald A. Kubik, of
Brielle, NJ.
SSG Christopher D. Worrell, of Virginia Beach, VA; CSM John
K. Laborde, of Waterloo, IA; SGT Robert J. Barrett, of Fall
River, MA; PFC Charlie C. Antonio, of Kahului, HI; SSG James
R. Patton, of Fort Benning, GA; SGT Michael K. Ingram, Jr.,
of Monroe, MI; SGT Randolph A. Sigley, of Richmond, KY; PFC
Jonathon D. Hall, of Chattanooga, TN; CPL Michael D.
Jankiewicz, of Ramsey, NJ; SPC Joseph T. Caron, of Tacoma,
WA; SGT Sean M. Durkin, of Aurora, CO; SGT Roberto E. Diaz
Borio, of San Juan, PR; PFC William A. Blount, of Petal,
MS; 1LT Robert W. Collins, of Tyrone, GA; SMSgt James B.
Lackey, of Green Clove Springs, FL; Maj. Randell
[[Page S5780]]
D. Voas, of Lakeville, MN; SGT Kurt E. Kruize, of Hancock,
MN; LCpl Curtis M. Swenson, of Rochester, MN; SSG Scott W.
Brunkhorst, of Fayetteville, NC; Sgt Frank J. World, of
Buffalo, NY.
LCpl Tyler O. Griffin, of Voluntown, CT; LT Miroslav
Zilberman, of Columbus, OH; PFC Raymond N. Pacleb, of
Honolulu, HI; SPC James L. Miller, of Yakima, WA; LCpl Randy
M. Heck, of Steubenville, OH; LCpl Jacob A. Ross, of
Gillette, WY; LCpl Rick J. Centanni, of Yorba Linda, CA;
SgtMaj Robert J. Cottle, of Whittier, CA; SFC Carlos M.
Santos-Silva, of Clarksville, TN; LCpl Justin J. Wilson, of
Palm City, FL; SPC Robert M. Rieckhoff, of Kenosha, WI; CPO
Adam Brown, of Hot Springs, AR; SGT Joel D. Clarkson, of
Fairbanks, AK; GySgt Robert L. Gilbert II, of Richfield, OH;
SSG Richard J. Jordan, of Tyler, TX; SPC Steven J. Bishop, of
Christiansburg, VA; SFC Glen J. Whetten, of Mesa, AZ; PFC
Erin L. McLyman, of Federal Way, WA; Cpl Jonathan D. Porto,
of Largo, FL; LCpl Garrett W. Gamble, of Sugarland, TX.
PFC Jason M. Kropat, of White Lake, NY; SGT Jonathan J.
Richardson, of Bald Knob, AR; PVT Nicholas S. Cook, of Hungry
Horse, MT; SPC Lakeshia M. Bailey, of Columbus, GA; SGT Aaron
M. Arthur, of Lake City, SC; SPC Alan N. Dikcis, of Niagara
Falls, NY; SGT Anthony A. Paci, of Rockville, MD; LCpl Nigel
K. Olsen, of Orem, UT; SGT Vincent L.C. Owens, of Fort
Smith, AR; LCpl Carlos A. Aragon, of Orem, UT; SPC Ian
T.D. Gelig, of Stevenson Ranch, CA; SPC Matthew D. Huston,
of Athens, GA; SPC Josiah D. Crumpler, of Hillsborough,
NC; SSG William S. Ricketts, of Corinth, MS; SGT William
C. Spencer, of Tacoma, WA; CPL Daniel T. O'Leary, of
Youngsville, NC; SGT Marcos Gorra, of North Bergen, NJ;
CW2 Billie J. Grinder, of Gallatin, TN; CPT Marcus R.
Alford, of Knoxville, TN; PFC JR Salvacion, of Ewa Beach,
HI.
LCpl Eric L. Ward, of Redmond, WA; LCpl Matthias N. Hanson,
of Buffalo, KY; SSG Michael David P. Cardenaz, of Corona, CA;
SSgt Christopher W. Eckard, of Hickory, NC; LCpl Adam D.
Peak, of Florence, KY; Cpl Gregory S. Stultz, of Brazil, IN;
LCpl Joshua H. Birchfield, of Westville, IN; Sgt Jeremy R.
McQueary, of Columbus, IN; LCpl Kielin T. Dunn, of
Chesapeake, VA; LCpl Larry M. Johnson, of Scranton, PA; PFC
Kyle J. Coutu, of Providence, RI; PFC Charles A. Williams, of
Fair Oaks, CA; PFC Eric D. Currier, of Londonderry, NH; LCpl
Alejandro J. Yazzie, of Rock Point, AZ; SPC Bobby J. Pagan,
of Austin, TX; SGT Jeremiah T. Wittman, of Darby, MT; SSG
John A. Reiners, of Lakeland, FL; PO1 Sean L. Caughman, of
Fort Worth, TX; LCpl Noah M. Pier, of Charlotte, NC; PFC
Jason H. Estopinal, of Dallas, GA.
Cpl Jacob H. Turbett, of Canton, MI; PFC Adriana Alvarez,
of San Benito, TX; SGT Adam J. Ray, of Louisville, KY; SGT
Dillon B. Foxx, of Traverse City, MI; SSG Mark A. Stets, of
El Cajon, CA; SFC Matthew S. Sluss-Tiller, of Callettsburg,
KY; SFC David J. Hartman, of Okinawa, Japan; PFC Zachary G.
Lovejoy, of Albuquerque, NM; CPT Daniel Whitten, of Grimes,
IA; SSG Rusty H. Christian, of Greenville, TN; LCpl
Michael L. Freeman Jr., of Fayetteville, PA; SPC Marc P.
Decoteau, of Waterville Valley, NH; CPT David J. Thompson,
of Hooker, OK; Sgt David J. Smith, of Frederick, MD; PFC
Scott G. Barnett, of Concord, CA; SGT Carlos E. Gill, of
Fayetteville, NC; LCpl Zachary D. Smith, of Hornell, NY;
LCpl Timothy J. Poole, of Bowling Green, KY; Sgt Daniel M.
Angus, of Thonotosassa, FL; LCpl Jeremy M. Kane, of
Towson, MD.
PO2 Xin Qi, of Cordova, TN; PFC Gifford E. Hurt, of
Yonkers, NY; SSG Thaddeus S. Montgomery II, of West
Yellowstone, MT; CPT Paul Pena, of San Marcos, TX; SFC
Michael P. Shannon, of Canadensis, PA; TSgt Adam K. Ginett,
of Knightdale, NC; SPC Robert Donevski, of Sun City, AZ; SSG
Anton R. Phillips, of Inglewood, CA; PFC Geoffrey A.
Whitsitt, of Taylors, SC; SSG Daniel D. Merriweather, of
Collierville, TN; SGT Lucas T. Beachnaw, of Lowell, MI; Sgt
Christopher R. Hrbek, of Westwood, NJ; SPC Kyle J. Wright, of
Romeoville, IL; Cpl Nicholas K. Uzenski, of Tomball, TX; Cpl
Jamie R. Lowe, of Johnsonville, IL; SSgt Matthew N. Ingham,
of Altoona, PA; PFC Michael R. Jarrett, of North Platte, NE;
LCpl Jacob A. Meinert, of Fort Atkinson, WI; LCpl Mark D.
Juarez, of San Antonio, TX; SFC Jason O. B. Hickman, of
Kingsport, TN.
SPC David A. Croft Jr., of Plant City, FL; PFC John P.
Dion, of Shattuck, OK; SPC Brian R. Bowman, of
Crawfordsville, IN; SGT Joshua A. Lengstorf, of Yoncalla, OR;
SrA Bradley R. Smith, of Troy, IL; SPC Brushaun X. Anderson,
of Columbus, GA; SSG Ronald J. Spino, of Waterbury, CT; SPC
Jason M. Johnston, of Albion, NY; SSG David H. Gutierrez, of
San Francisco, CA; LCpl Omar G. Roebuck, of Moreno Valley,
CA; SGT Albert D. Ware, of Chicago, IL; PFC Serge Kropov,
of Hawley, PA; TSgt Anthony C. Campbell Jr., of Florence,
KY; PVT Jhanner A. Tello, of Los Angeles, CA; PFC Jaiciae
L. Pauley, of Austell, GA; Sgt Ralph Anthony Webb Freitas,
of Detroit, MI; SSG Dennis J. Hansen, of Panama City, FL;
Cpl Xhacob Latorre, of Waterbury, CT; SGT Elijah J. Rao,
of Lake Oswego, OR; SGT Kenneth R. Nichols Jr., of
Chrisman, IL.
LCpl Jonathan A. Taylor, of Jacksonville, FL; PFC Derrick
D. Gwaltney, of Cape Coral, FL; SGT Brandon T. Islip, of
Richmond, VA; PO3 David M. Mudge, of Sutherlin, OR; PFC
Michael A. Rogers, of White Sulphur Springs, MT; SGT Jason A.
McLeod, of Crystal Lake, IL; SSG Matthew A. Pucino, of
Cockeysville, MD; PFC Marcus A. Tynes, of Moreno Valley, CA;
SGT James M. Nolen, of Alvin, TX; SGT Briand T. Williams, of
Sparks, GA; LCpl Nicholas J. Hand, of Kansas City, MO; SGT
Daniel A. Frazier, of Saint Joseph, MI; SSG John J. Cleaver,
of Marysville, WA; PO2 Brian M. Patton, of Freeport, IL; SPC
Joseph M. Lewis, of Terrell, TX; SSG Ryan L. Zorn, of Upton,
WY; SGT Benjamin W. Sherman, of Plymouth, MA; SPC Christopher
J. Coffland, of Baltimore, MD; Cpl Shawn P. Hefner, of Hico,
TX; SSgt Stephen L. Murphy, of Jaffery, NH.
LCpl Justin J. Swanson, of Anaheim, CA; CW2 Earl R. Scott
III, of Jacksonville, FL; CW2 Mathew C. Heffelfinger of
Kimberly, ID; Sgt Charles I. Cartwright, of Union Bridge, MD;
SPC Gary L. Gooch Jr., of Ocala, FL; SPC Aaron S. Aamot, of
Custer, WA; SPC Tony Carrasco Jr., of Berino, NM; SSG Amy C.
Tirador, of Albany, NY; SPC Julian L. Berisford, of Benwood,
WV; SPC David A. Croft Jr., of Plant City, FL; Sgt Cesar B.
Ruiz, of San Antonio, TX; SPC Jonathon M. Sylvestre, of
Colorado Springs, CO; SPC Christopher M. Cooper, of
Oceanside, CA.
We cannot forget these men and women and their great sacrifice. These
brave individuals left behind parents, spouses, children, siblings, and
friends. We want them to know this country pledges to preserve the
memory of our fallen soldiers who gave their lives for our country.
Private First Class Edwin C. Wood
Mr. NELSON of Nebraska. Mr. President, I rise today to honor Private
First Class Edwin C. Wood of Omaha, NE.
Private First Class Wood was an ``All-American kid,'' who dreamed of
one day serving his country. That opportunity came in October 2009 when
he enlisted in the U.S. Army and became a cavalry scout for the 1st
Squadron, 71st Armor Regiment, 1st Brigade Combat Team of the 10th
Mountain Division, based in Fort Drum, NY.
A graduate of Omaha North High School, Private First Class Wood,
better known as Eddie or Freckles, spent his time growing up as a
member of the Boy Scouts and Junior Reserve Officers' Training Corps a
military re-enactor and a junior counselor at YMCA Camp Pokamoke in
Crescent, IA. He was a role model to all who knew him.
Private First Class Wood had just gotten back to Afghanistan, after
being home on leave in June, when the truck he was driving on July 5,
2010, was hit by an improvised explosive device. The explosion took
this brave young man's life, along with that of another soldier, SSG
Christopher F. Cabacoy.
Although he was only in the service for a short time, Private First
Class Wood's awards and decorations include the Army Good Conduct
Medal, National Defense Service Medal, Afghanistan Campaign Medal,
Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, and Combat Action Badge.
PFC Edwin C. Wood served his country honorably and made the ultimate
sacrifice for his fellow Americans. His courageous choice to protect
his country and help the people of Afghanistan achieve peace and
security represents all that we can be proud of in our armed forces. I
know I join all Nebraskans in grieving the loss of Private Wood; he
will be remembered for the selfless hero he was. Private First Class
Wood's family and friends remain in our thoughts and prayers.
Corporal Todd Nicely
Mr. BOND. Mr. President, I rise today to honor U.S. Marine Cpl Todd
Nicely, of Arnold, MO--a true American hero.
Corporal Nicely is greatly admired by his fellow marines--and when
you hear his story you will admire him too.
As a marine, Corporal Nicely brought the fight to the terrorists in
Afghanistan, so our families in Missouri and across the Nation could
live in peace and security.
But what makes Corporal Nicely an American hero is not only his
leadership on the battlefield but also his leadership here at home.
On March 26, 2010, Corporal Nicely and his fellow marines were on a
foot patrol in Helmand province--one of the most dangerous regions in
Afghanistan--when he stepped on an improvised explosive device,
triggering a devastating explosion. When Corporal Nicely woke up, he
realized that all four of his limbs were lost in the blast.
Instead of defeat, however, Corporal Nicely faced his injuries with
the same warrior spirit he showed on the battlefield. This brave marine
has astounded many with his swift progress--evidence of his unwavering
spirit and courage
[[Page S5781]]
among overwhelming odds. Corporal Nicely remains one of the few
surviving quadruple amputees from the war in Iraq and Afghanistan.
At Bethesda Naval Hospital and Walter Reed Army Medical Center,
Corporal Nicely has endured--and surpassed--these odds with the love
and support of his lovely wife Crystal, who also served her country as
a marine. His story, courage and unwavering service make me proud to be
an American. Our prayers and thoughts are with Corporal Nicely and his
family, and I ask unanimous consent that this poem--penned in honor of
this great American, by Bert Caswell--be printed in the Record.
There being no objection, the material was ordered to be printed in
the Record, as follows:
More, Than a Man
More. . . .
More, Than!
More, Than A Man!
As once Nicely, you so ran!
Like a deer . . .
As once you stood. . . .
So Strong and Proud, as you so would!
For all that was right, and good!
As to greatness, your fine heart so ran. . . .
As a United States Marine, as upon battlefields of honor seen
. . .
Burning Bold, Burning Bright . . . as into that darkness,
bringing your light!
As all of your Brother's hearts, you'd ignite! Oh how you so
gleamed!
As there you so led, while gently holding your Brothers In
Arms . . . as they died and bled!
Until that moment . . . when it all so changed . . .
As you awoke, as the tears running down your most heroic eyes
so spoke!
So spoke, of all your loss and pain . . . and yet somehow
inside of you, still hope remained!
Todd, Nicely done!
As you knew things would never be
the same . . .
As when, all in that moment you'd became!
More, Than A Man!
As when you so chose to rise, and get up . . . and run once
again!
But, now at greater speeds!
With but your fine heart and soul, you United States Marine .
. . to lead!
While all along, held in our Lord's arms . . . as your new
battle so convened!
For some, are placed on this earth!
To bless us all, all in their courage and fine worth!
Such Angels, by our Lord God . . . to show us all what so
comes first!
To Teach Us! To Beseech Us!
To all our hearts and souls, To So Reach Us!
For there is no Missouri Compromise, in this Marine!
Uhraaah Jar Head because you've got mountains to climb . . .
dreams to dream!
As now high above all of us, you are so seen!
As your gait has gotten stronger . . .
And you stride so much more faster, and so much longer . . .
As you've become stronger, in your faith that belongs here .
. . as the days have gotten longer!
As you've become, More, Than A Man!
With but your divine acceptance and grace, as you have put
such tears upon our face!
How can such strength be explained?
As it's clear, yea Marine . . . You Are More Than A Man!
Showing us all, that arms and legs we all need!
But, we can survive . . . but without a heart, we will so
surely die!
And if I could, but have a Son . . . as bright as you, this
one!
Then, what a gift to this our world . . . I would leave!
For in the night as you sleep, our Lord's tears from Heaven
fall upon you to so keep!
To so keep you safe and strong, for your life is like a song!
To lift us all up where we belong!
I ask, could we but have such the strength like you, and your
family for how you stand!
And one fine day, as when up in Heaven you all so meet . . .
our Lord will
repeat . . .
``Uhraaah Marine, you've been promoted to an Angel so very
sweet . . . Nicely Done!''
For in Heaven you need not arms and legs, we need Marines
like you . . . to evil to defeat!
Men like you, Who are More Than A Man!
Specialist Clayton D. McGarrah
Mrs. LINCOLN. Mr. President, today I honor SPC Clayton D. McGarrah,
20, of Harrison, who died July 4, 2010, in Arghandab, Afghanistan, in
support of Operation Enduring Freedom. According to initial reports,
Specialist McGarrah died of injuries sustained when an improvised
explosive device detonated near his dismounted patrol, followed by
small arms and rocket-propelled grenade fire.
As Arkansans and Americans gathered together to celebrate our
freedom, SPC Clayton D. McGarrah made the ultimate sacrifice on behalf
of our Nation. My heart goes out to his family for their loss. Along
with all Arkansans, I am grateful for Specialist McGarrah's service and
for the service and sacrifice of all of our military servicemembers and
their families. I am committed to ensuring they have the full support
they need and deserve. Our grateful Nation will not forget them when
their military service is complete.
Specialist McGarrah was assigned to C Company, 2nd Battalion, 508th
Parachute Infantry Regiment, 82nd Airborne Division, Fort Bragg, NC.
His wife and parents reside in Harrison.
More than 11,000 Arkansans on Active Duty and more than 10,000
Arkansas Reservists have served in Iraq or Afghanistan since September
11, 2001. These men and women have shown tremendous courage and
perseverance through the most difficult of times.As neighbors, as
Arkansans, and as Americans, it is incumbent upon us to do everything
we can to honor their service and to provide for them and their
families, not only when they are in harm's way but also when they
return home. It is the least we can do for those whom we owe so much.
____________________