[Congressional Record Volume 146, Number 128 (Friday, October 13, 2000)]
[Senate]
[Pages S10603-S10604]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                            KEVIN SHAWN RUX

  Mr. CONRAD. Mr. President, we have just learned very tragic news that 
a young man from my home State of North Dakota is among those now 
listed as missing and presumed dead on board the U.S.S. Cole.
  He is Petty Officer 2nd Class Kevin Shawn Rux. I want to express my 
deepest sympathies to the family. Our Nation honors this young man for 
his service and sacrifice. Our prayers are with his family in their 
grief today, and with all the fathers, mothers, spouses, sons, and 
daughters of those who lost their loved ones in this terrible attack.
  I want to reassure the family this Nation will not rest until we find 
the criminals responsible for the death of Kevin Shawn Rux and his 
shipmates. This country will hold them accountable for these murders. 
Again, we share the grief of the family of this young

[[Page S10604]]

man. He was doing his duty. He was serving his country. We admire very 
much his service, and we deeply respect his sacrifice.
  My colleague from North Dakota would also like to comment. We would 
appreciate that.
  Mr. LOTT. Mr. President, let me just say, Mr. President, I appreciate 
the fact that the Senator has raised this issue. It is appropriate that 
we acknowledge the service of our military men and women who are 
serving all over the world, more often than we realize, in very 
dangerous situations, and that we recognize those who lost their 
lives--in this instance, sailors on the U.S.S. Cole.
  I, too, have a personal feeling about this. I would like to make some 
comments on it myself. Before I do that, I yield to Senator Dorgan from 
North Dakota for his remarks.
  Mr. DORGAN. Mr. President, I thank the majority leader. This was 
obviously a senseless act of terrorism. Acts of terrorism are, in most 
cases, perpetrated by cowards who want to inflict terrible mayhem on 
especially those from our country, but others around the world as well. 
Yesterday, when we learned the news that the U.S.S. Cole had been 
attacked, all of us were deeply saddened. Our thoughts and prayers go 
out to all of the families of those who are now known dead and those 
who are presumed dead or missing.
  As Senator Conrad indicated, we have just learned from the U.S. Navy 
this morning that a young man named Kevin Rux from Portland, ND, is 
among those missing and presumed dead, according to the U.S. Navy. I 
want to add my voice to my colleagues' comments that my thoughts and 
prayers go out to his family. We are thinking of them and praying for 
them today. We feel the same about all of those who have been the 
victims of this attack. It tells us, once again, that this is a 
difficult and in some cases troubled world, and those who wear the 
uniform of this country in all parts of this globe, who stand for 
peace, do so at some risk to themselves and on behalf of a grateful 
Nation.
  Again, I want to simply say we are thinking of the Rux family and all 
of the other families whose loved ones have become victims of this 
cowardly terrorist attack. I say, as well, that this country has said 
to its President and Members of Congress that those responsible for 
this attack must be found and brought to justice for it.
  I yield the floor.

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