[Congressional Record Volume 149, Number 57 (Wednesday, April 9, 2003)]
[Senate]
[Pages S5052-S5053]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                       HONORING OUR ARMED FORCES

  Mr. DODD. Madam President, we lost a young man from Connecticut in 
the Iraq conflict a few days ago. I want to take a few minutes to pay 
tribute to Marine SSGT Phillip Jordan of Enfield, CT, who was killed in 
action while on a combat mission in Iraq.
  All Americans have been closely following our troops in Iraq since 
the war began 2 weeks ago. Every day we hear lots of facts and figures 
about the war, the number of sorties in the air, the number of tanks in 
the field, and the locations of various divisions throughout Iraq. We 
must never forget that behind those statistics are people. These people 
are our constituents, young men and women in uniform from all across 
this great land of ours, some who are not even citizens of this country 
but who have green cards and want to demonstrate their commitment to 
America by serving in the Armed Forces and commit themselves to do a 
job in the Persian Gulf because they have been asked to by the 
President.
  We must never forget that each and every one of the more than 225,000 
brave service men and women fighting in Iraq have family and friends at 
home to fight for our country overseas. Each of these heroes is making 
a tremendous contribution, a personal sacrifice, so all of us can be 
more secure in the United States.
  Inevitably, in a conflict such as this, there are those who will make 
the ultimate sacrifice, some who will never return to their family and 
friends and communities. I would like to share the story of one of 
those fine Americans for a few moments this evening.

[[Page S5053]]

  The individual I want to talk about is SSGT Phillip Jordan who was 42 
years of age. He lived in Enfield with his wife Amanda and their 6-
year-old son Tyler. His devotion to his country caused him to enlist in 
the Marines some 15 years ago as a private. Sergeant Jordan quickly 
advanced in the ranks to become a gunnery sergeant.
  In 1991, he served in his first combat mission as a platoon leader in 
Operation Desert Storm, the first Persian Gulf war. After that 
conflict, Sergeant Jordan was based at Camp Lejeune in North Carolina 
before becoming a drill sergeant at Parris Island, SC. For 3 years he 
taught countless new recruits how to become U.S. marines. Few were 
better suited for the task--friends, family and his marine colleagues 
referred to Sergeant Jordan as a ``Marine's Marine'' for his can-do 
professional attitude. Just before he was shipped out in January to 
serve in the second Persian Gulf war, Sergeant Jordan was asked how he 
felt about once again being called to serve in combat. His response 
was: ``This is what I do. That's my job.''
  He did that job with unflinching valor. Phillip Jordan was much more 
than just a fine marine. He was an incredibly fine, loving husband and 
remarkable father. Amanda Jordan described her husband as a caring and 
loving man who would go out of his way to do a favor for anyone at all. 
Each and every Sunday when he was home, he would make his family a 
homemade breakfast, right down to the flowers and fresh-squeezed orange 
juice. While stationed overseas, letters home always included two 
parts, one that began ``Dear Amanda'' and the other began ``Dear 
Tyler'' so that Tyler would have a letter of his own. Tyler certainly 
read those letters. He says he wants to grow up to be a marine some 
day, just like his father. There would be, perhaps, no more fitting 
tribute to a man who showed such tremendous dedication and devotion to 
his family and his Nation.
  Phillip Jordan's friends liked to call him ``Gump,'' after the movie 
11Forrest Gump,'' for his eternal optimism. Tragically, in times of 
war, such optimism is not always rewarded. We, as a Nation, can be 
assured a victory in this conflict and any others which may challenge 
us down the line, because we know our fighting forces are made up of 
men and women who share Phillip Jordan's sense of commitment and 
strength of character. We must always be mindful of the price they and 
their loved ones have paid for our freedom and our security, especially 
those like Phillip Jordan who paid the highest price of all.
  Phillip Jordan was not the first casualty of this war and regrettably 
he will not be the last. It is important for all of us at this moment 
in time to reach out to the many families who have an empty chair at 
their dinner table because a father or mother, brother, sister, son, or 
daughter has been called to serve their Nation in a distant land. These 
families need our support more now than ever.
  Young Tyler Jordan was asked the other day about his dad. He said he 
was confident his father was the best marine in Heaven.
  On behalf of the Senate, I thank Phillip Jordan for his service to 
America, and extend the deepest sympathies, not only of my family but 
also of all of the Senate, to express our condolences to Amanda and 
Tyler Jordan and to that family. Our thoughts and prayers are with 
them.
  I yield the floor.
  I suggest the absence of a quorum.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. The clerk will call the roll.
  The assistant legislative clerk proceeded to call the roll.
  Mr. McCONNELL. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the order 
for the quorum call be rescinded.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER (Mr. Graham of South Carolina). Without 
objection, it is so ordered.

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