[Congressional Record Volume 149, Number 59 (Friday, April 11, 2003)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E739-E740]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




              HONORING PRIVATE FIRST CLASS DIEGO F. RINCON

                                 ______
                                 

                            HON. DAVID SCOTT

                               of Georgia

                    in the house of representatives

                        Thursday, April 10, 2003

  Mr. SCOTT of Georgia. Mr. Speaker, today, I rise to give some remarks 
about one of those noble heroes who gave his life, Private First Class 
Diego Fernando Rincon, who is from my 13th Congressional District in 
Georgia, whose funeral will be held today in just a few hours from now 
at 2 p.m. at the Seventh Day Adventist Church located in my district in 
Conyers, GA.
  As we see on television the joyous faces of Iraq who have been 
liberated we must never forget the precious price that was paid by our 
brave and courageous soldiers who gave their lives so that Iraq could 
be free.
  In his last letter to his mother, dated February 22 and received by 
his family on March 22, Private First Class Diego Rincon wrote:

     Hola, Mother,
       How are you doing? Good, I hope. I'm doing OK, I guess. I 
     won't be able to write anymore starting the 28th of this 
     month. We are moving out. We are already packed and ready to 
     move to a tactical Alpha-Alpha (in Iraq). Once that happens, 
     there will not be any mail sent out. We will only receive 
     mail that is less than 12 ounces. At least that's what they 
     said.
       I'm not sure where exactly we're going [to] be yet, but it 
     is said to be a 20-hour drive in the Bradleys [fighting 
     vehicles].
       So I guess the time has finally come for us to see what we 
     are made of, who will crack when the stress level rises and 
     who will be calm all the way through it. Only time will tell. 
     We are at the peak of our training and it's time to put it to 
     the test.
       I just want to tell everybody how much you all mean to me 
     and how much I love you all. Mother, I love you so much! I'm 
     not going to give up! I'm living my life one day at a time, 
     sitting here picturing home with a small tear in my eyes, 
     spending time with my brothers, who will hold my life in 
     their hands.
       I try not to think of what may happen in the future, but I 
     can't stand seeing it in my eyes. There's going to be 
     murders, funerals and tears rolling down everybody's eyes. 
     But the only thing I can say is, keep my head up and try to 
     keep the faith and pray for better days. All this will pass. 
     I believe God has a path for me. Whether I make it or not, 
     it's all part of the plan. It can't be changed, only 
     completed.
       ``Mother'' will be the last word I'll say. Your face will 
     be the last picture that goes through my eyes. I'm not trying 
     to scare you, but it's reality. The time is here to see the 
     plan laid out. And, hopefully, I'll be at home in it. I don't 
     know what I'm talking about or why I'm writing it down. Maybe 
     I just want someone to know what goes through my head. It's 
     probably good not keeping it all inside.
       I just hope that you're proud of what I'm doing and have 
     faith in my decisions. I will try hard and not give up. I 
     just want to say [I'm] sorry for anything I have ever done 
     wrong. And I'm doing it all for you, Mom. I love you.

  Tuesday, I talked with Diego's father, George, on the telephone and I 
expressed all of our feelings as a grateful Nation when I assured him 
that his son's contribution will forever be remembered. In addition, we 
would present him with the Record of this tribute to his son along with 
a U.S. flag that is flying over the Capitol today--the day of his son's 
funeral. This father of this genuine American hero was touched and 
moved and we both were in tears and he said, ``Thank you, Congressman 
Scott.'' I said, ``No, thank you, Mr. Rincon, we thank you. The Nation 
and the world thank you and your son because your son gave us the 
greatest gift of all, which is this: The gift that someone would lay 
down his life for his friend and those friends we see joyously 
celebrating their freedom on television today; friends who are thankful 
and grateful to 19-year-old Private First Class Diego Rincon.''
  Rincon fought the good fight, he finished his course, he kept the 
faith, and most assuredly

[[Page E740]]

for Private First Class Diego Rincon there is waiting for him an 
extraordinary crown of righteousness. Rincon has been awarded 
posthumous U.S. citizenship and I am proud to cosponsor pending 
legislation that will grant automatic citizenship for all foreign-born 
soldiers killed fighting for the United States.
  God Bless Diego Rincon and God Bless America.

                          ____________________