[Congressional Record Volume 147, Number 90 (Tuesday, June 26, 2001)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1200]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]


                TRIBUTE TO CORPORAL KELLY STEPHEN KEITH

                                 ______
                                 

                         HON. JAMES E. CLYBURN

                           of south carolina

                    in the house of representatives

                         Tuesday, June 26, 2001

  Mr. CLYBURN. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to ask my colleagues to join 
me in paying tribute to Corporal Kelly Stephen Keith. Kelly Stephen 
Keith was born in 1978, the son of Donna Harter of Florence and Billy 
Keith of Cheraw, and stepson of Ronald Harter and Connie Keith. His 
siblings are Andy and Jay Keith of Cheraw and Dustin Brasington of 
Florence.
  Kelly Keith joined the Marine Corps on December 17, 1996 shortly 
after graduating from Cheraw High School where he had received the 
``Spirit of the Brave Award'' in his senior year. During his high 
school years, Kelly played in the marching band, was an avid fisherman 
and hunter, and enjoyed golf, music, and scuba diving. He was a Boy 
Scout for ten years, and a member of First Baptist Church of Cheraw.
  Over the course of his first three years in the Marines, Keith was 
promoted four times and received numerous awards for good conduct and 
advanced to the rank of Corporal. He was assigned to Naval Aircrew 
Training, and later joined the Osprey Unit team. Before joining the 
Osprey Unit, Kelly was with the Marine Squadron assigned to transport 
the U.S. President and his staff.
  Corporal Keith distinguished himself as the only Corporal, and the 
youngest officer, to be named crew chief on the Osprey test team. Keith 
was killed with eighteen other Marines on April 9, 2000 when their 
aircraft crashed in Arizona on a training exercise.
  The South Carolina General Assembly passed a resolution on March 6, 
2001 naming a portion of U.S. Highway 52 in honor of Corporal Keith. 
Corporal Kelly Stephen Keith was a man of integrity, honor, and 
respect. The service that he rendered for our nation was invaluable, 
and the memory of this soldier and great American should never die.
  Mr. Speaker, please join me and my fellow South Carolinians in 
honoring Corporal Kelly Stephen Keith.

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