[Congressional Record Volume 149, Number 62 (Tuesday, April 29, 2003)]
[Senate]
[Pages S5472-S5474]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                       HONORING OUR ARMED FORCES

  Mrs. FEINSTEIN. Mr. President, with the dramatic and precipitous fall 
of many Iraqi cities, including Baghdad, the military conflict in Iraq 
is all but officially over.
  Isolated pockets of resistance still exist and there is the looming 
threat of suicide bombings, as happened last Friday at an ammunitions 
depot. But we can now proclaim that the barbarous regime of Saddam 
Hussein and his Ba'ath Party has finally come to an end.
  As the military aspect subsides, the number of casualties--United 
States, coalition, and Iraqi--is also diminishing. And this, clearly, 
is wonderful news. Still, regrettably, there have been those over the 
last few weeks who have made the ultimate sacrifice, some of them with 
close ties to California. I would like to take a moment to honor these 
brave and selfless individuals.
  Marine Cpl Jesus Medellin: On April 7, 21-year-old Jesus ``Marty'' 
Medellin was killed when an enemy artillery shell struck his vehicle. 
The second of four boys from a very close family from Fort Worth, TX, 
Medellin was remembered as a warm and relaxed family man who was active 
in local church.
  As soon as he graduated from W.E. Boswell High School, in the year 
2000, he went straight to Marine boot camp, having decided to do so 
when only 12 years old. ``There's no prouder way of losing someone than 
through serving their country,'' said his father, Freddy Medellin, Sr., 
who was prevented from joining the military because of physical 
problems.
  As part of the 3rd Assault Amphibian Battalion, First Marine 
Division, based in Camp Pendleton, CA, Cpl Jesus Medellin died doing 
what he had always dreamed of doing. Americans everywhere should be as 
proud of him as his family.
  Marine Sgt Duane Rios: Remembered as a gentle giant, as a light-
hearted person with an infectious laugh, 6-foot-3-inch Duane Rios was 
killed in combat on the outskirts of Baghdad, on Friday, April 4. He 
was a squad leader for the 1st Combat Engineer Battalion of the 1st 
Marine Division, from Camp Pendleton, CA.
  Raised in Indiana by his grandmother, Rios graduated from Griffith 
High School in 1996. It was there that he met his future bride, Erica, 
who, upon hearing of her husband's death, told the San Diego Union 
Tribune that ``there's no way he'd leave me behind knowing I couldn't 
take it. . . . He was a great guy, none better. . . . He did his job 
with pride because it was something that he felt was right.''
  She recalled how much they loved the view of the ocean at San 
Clemente, walking their dog on the beach, and watching the sunset. Her 
strength, along with her husband's sacrifice, should serve as an 
inspiration to us all.
  Marine 1stSgt Edward C. Smith: A 38-year-old native of Chicago, Sgt 
Edward Smith had served in the U.S. Marine Corps for 20 years, and had 
served for 4 years as a reserve officer for the police department of 
Anaheim, CA. His hope was to retire from the Marines and become a full-
time police officer. He died in Qatar, of combat injuries sustained in 
central Iraq, on April 5.
  A veteran of Operations Desert Storm and Desert Shield, Sergeant 
Smith received many commendations, including the Navy Commendation 
Medal and two Navy Achievement Medals
  After graduating from the Palomar Police Academy with the ``Top Cop'' 
award, Sergeant Smith went on to receive such honors as the Rookie of 
the Year for the Anaheim Police Department and the Orange County 
Reserve Police Officer of the Year in 2001.
  His coworkers in Anaheim remember Edward as a gentleman and a 
professional. He would send them e-mails and makeshift postcards made 
from empty MRE containers--one which promised that he would wear his 
SWAP cap into Baghdad.
  Sergeant Smith leaves behind his wife Sandy and three young children, 
Nathan, Ryan, and Shelby. At a news conference held at the Anaheim 
police department, Ryan, an extraordinarily mature 10-year-old, talked 
about how their father was always there when they needed help.
  ``It made me feel so good,'' the boy said. ``He was the best dad you 
could ever have. I miss him a lot.''
  Police Sgt. Rick Martinez, one of 100 colleagues who turned out to 
support the Smith family, noted that ``we all fell in love with his 
children. Edward's got to be so proud right now.''
  And so America is so very proud of Sergeant Smith. Army Pvt. Devon D. 
Jones: Army Pvt. Devon Jones left for boot camp just a few weeks after 
graduating from Lincoln High School, in San Diego, last June. He was 
just 19 years old.
  It was only 3 years earlier that, after moving from one San Diego 
group home to another, the artillery specialist found a foster mother 
who he called mom.
  ``I'm honored to talk about him,'' his foster mother Evelyn Houston 
said. ``He was a strong spirit. He was cool, but compassionate, and 
always concerned about everyone's well-being.''
  He joined the military in order to pay for his education--his goal 
was to be a writer and a teacher.
  In a letter he sent to his family last month, Private Jones described 
his life in the desert. ``Sometimes I just look into the sky at the 
stars and wonder what you all are doing, and smile.
  ``Hold on, be patient,'' he concluded, ``and know there is a reason 
for everything.''
  GySgt. Jeffrey Bohr: 39-year-old Marine GySgt. Jeffrey Bohr, who was 
killed in downtown Baghdad during a 7-hour shootout outside a mosque, 
had been in the military his entire adult life. He joined the Army 
fresh of high school in Iowa, where he rode horses and played football, 
but switched to the Marine Corps 5 years later.
  A large, broad-shouldered man known for his boundless energy--he 
could run all day with the younger Marines he commanded--Sergeant Bohr 
was also quiet and down-to-earth.
  He lived with his wife Lori in San Clemente, CA, and loved reading 
history and John Grisham novels and taking his two boxers, Tank and Sea 
Czar, on 10-mile runs. He was also a diehard Oakland Raiders fan.
  The last time Sergeant Bohr called Lori was a little over a month 
ago--he spoke of sandstorms and his belief that they would make good 
parents.
  Lori's brother, Craig Clover, called Sergeant Bohr ``a stand-up guy--
do it by the rules. For a friend or family, he'd do anything . . . and 
he loved the military.''
  Marine LCpl Donald Cline Jr.: The same was true with 21 year-old LCpl 
Donald Cline, Jr., who was listed as missing in action just over 1 
month ago, yet the Department of Defense confirmed last week that he 
had died in combat outside the city of Nasiriyah, in southern Iraq.
  Born in Sierra Madre, CA, Corporal Cline moved to the town of La 
Crescenta, where he attended the public schools there until moving to 
Sparks, NV. It was there that he met his future wife Tina. They had two 
children together Dakota, 2, and Dylan, who is only 7 months old.
  Sgt Troy Jenkins: On April 19, in an extraordinary act of heroic 
selflessness and sacrifice, 25-year-old Sgt Troy Jenkins threw himself 
on a cluster bomb just before it detonated. As a result, he saved the 
lives not only of several soldiers in his regiment--the 187th 
Infantry--but of a 7-year-old Iraqi girl.

[[Page S5473]]

  Raised by his father in Evergreen, AL, Sergeant Jenkins loved roaming 
the woods, fishing, and music. He joined the Marines just before 
graduating from high school, in 1995, and later transferred to the 
Army. He also served in Afghanistan and was planning to leave the 
service this summer, with the hopes of joining the California Highway 
Patrol.
  His reason for wanting to leave the military was so that his wife 
Amanda and their two children, ages 4 and 2, wouldn't be alone again. 
Amanda was not surprised by the circumstances of his death. ``He didn't 
have a selfish bone in his body,'' she said. ``He was always thinking 
of other people first.''
  That was demonstrated, well beyond the call of duty, when he 
willingly gave his own life to save those of his fellow soldiers and a 
little girl.
  1LT Osbaldo Orozco: 1LT Osbaldo Orozco, just 26 years old, was killed 
in Tikrit, Iraq, when his Bradley tank, rushing to defend a checkpoint 
under fire, flipped over as it moved into a position to return fire.
  Strong, tall and fast, Lieutenant Orozco was a star football player, 
both at Delano High School, in Delano, CA, and later at California 
Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo. At college, he was voted 
``Linebacker of the Year,'' was named as a Division II All-American, 
and racked up over 300 tackles. He gave up the opportunity to go pro by 
choosing to enter the Army.
  He married his high school sweetheart Mayra in 2001. ``He commanded 
four Bradleys and he loved it,'' she said. ``He was ready to go and do 
his job. They all were.''
  Lieutenant Orozco is also survived by his parents, Jorge and Reyes 
Orozco, and five brothers, all over 6 feet tall. Together, they spoke 
with great pride of Osbaldo's many accomplishments--academic and 
athletic--and those special leadership qualities that so endeared him 
to the men he commanded.
  SFC John W. Marshall: SFC John Winston Marshall was a 30-year veteran 
of the U.S. Army--a career soldier to the core. He grew up in Los 
Angeles and kept close family ties in the area. His parents, Odessa and 
Joseph, live in Sacramento.
  It is worth noting that both his parents served in World War II, in 
many ways as trailblazers for African Americans in the armed services. 
His mother served as a nurse in England and his father as a 
quartermaster.
  Because of his 30 years of distinguished service, Sergeant Marshall 
was eligible to leave the Armed Forces with full retirement benefits 
and had, in fact, planned to retire last year. Yet he decided to stay 
because of looming hostilities in Iraq. He was struck and mortally 
wounded by rocket-propelled grenade launched in an ambush by Iraqi 
troops.
  Born in St. Louis, he moved with his family to Los Angeles when he 
was only 3. An accomplished flute player and a self-taught mechanic who 
made motor scooters out of lawnmower engines, Sergeant Marshall 
graduated from Washington High School in 1972 and enlisted in the Army.
  He went on to serve during the Vietnam war, in South Korea and 
Germany, and he was a veteran of Operation Desert Storm. At the time of 
his death, he was commanding a platoon of 40 men from the 3rd Infantry 
Division, based at Fort Stewart, GA.
  According to his mother Odessa, ``He wasn't there to pass the time; 
he was there to do a job.''
  His wife Denise told the Los Angeles Times: ``He knew it was 
dangerous. He didn't run from anything.''
  And we should also remember that 50-year-old Sergeant Marshall was as 
devoted to his family as he was to his country. He leaves behind two 
sons and a daughter, ages 12, 13, and 14.
  In one of the last e-mails he sent to his family, he noted: ``I am 
not a politician or policy maker, just an old soldier.''
  Well, we politicians and policymakers must not forget any of these 
heroes, regardless of their age, rank, religion, sex, or ethnic 
background. Together, they embody the diversity and consummate 
professionalism of America's Armed Forces.
  We all hope and pray for the time when there will be no more casualty 
lists--when there will no longer be a need to recount stories of 
courageous men and women who willingly sacrificed their own lives, and 
irrevocably changed the lives of their families, their spouses, and 
children, in order to overthrow Saddam Hussein and liberate the people 
of Iraq.
  Clearly, this conflict was a signal military success, and the 
casualties were kept relatively small. I could not be prouder of the 
stellar performance of our Armed Forces.
  But we must never forget to honor every single loss, to pay our 
deepest respects and offer our deepest sympathies to those left behind, 
to those whose worlds have been so completely changed--and changed 
forever.
  Mrs. BOXER. Mr. President, as we pray for all those who are in harm's 
way, I rise to pay tribute to seven additional young Americans who were 
killed in the Iraqi war.
  I have made it a priority of mine to come to the Senate Chamber to 
read the names of the fallen military personnel who were from 
California or were based in my State. So far, 41 individuals have died 
who are connected in some way to California.
  GySgt Jeffrey Edward Bohr, age 39, was killed on April 10 during a 
shoot-out in downtown Baghdad. He was assigned to the 1st Battalion, 
5th Regiment, Alpha Company of Camp Pendleton, CA. He and his wife 
lived in San Clemente, CA. He was originally from northeast Iowa. He 
began his military career 20 years ago, serving in both the Army and 
the Marine Corps. During his career, he fought in Operation Desert 
Storm, and took part in operations in Panama, Somalia and Granada.
  Cpl Jesus Gonzalez, age 22, was killed on April 12 in Baghdad. He was 
assigned to the 1st Tank Battalion, 1st Marine Division, Twentynine 
Palms, CA. He was born in Mexico and moved with his family to Indio, 
CA, 10 years ago. He was known as ``Hugo'' by his friends and family. 
He was a soft-spoken activist in his short life, marching in a Gulf War 
protest in 1992 and organizing a walk-out at his high school to support 
immigrant rights. However, when he was called to duty, he did not 
hesitate to fulfill his orders. He is survived by his wife, his 2-year-
old daughter, and his parents.
  SSgt Riayan A. Tejada, age 26, was killed on April 11 during combat 
operations in northeast Baghdad. He was assigned to the 3rd Battalion, 
5th Marine Regiment, Camp Pendleton, CA. He was from New York City. He 
moved from the Dominican Republic to the United States in 1989. After 
graduating from high school, he enlisted in the Marines. He is survived 
by his parents and two children.
  LCpl David Edward Owens, Jr., age 20, died from a chest wound 
inflicted during combat on April 12 in Baghdad. He was assigned to the 
3rd Battalion, 5th Marine Regiment, 1st Marine Division, Camp 
Pendleton, CA. He was from Winchester, VA. He graduated from James Wood 
High School in 2000. He loved hunting and athletics and was a wrestler 
and football player in high school. He joined the Marines with the 
long-term goal of a career in law enforcement. At his funeral service, 
he became the first person ever given an honorary appointment to the 
Virginia State Police. He is survived by his parents.
  Cpl Jason David Mileo, age 20, was killed on April 14 in Iraq. He was 
assigned to the 3rd Battalion, 4th Marine Regiment, 1st Marine 
Division, Twentynine Palms, CA. He was from Centreville, MD. He was a 
2000 graduate of Chesapeake High School in Pasadena, MD. He is survived 
by his parents.
  Army SGT Troy David Jenkins, age 25, died on Friday, April 24, from 
injuries sustained during combat. He was from Ridgecrest, CA. He was 
assigned to the B Company, 3rd Battalion, 187th Infantry Regiment, Fort 
Campbell, KY.
  Army 1LT Osbaldo Orozco, age 26, was killed in Iraq on April 25. He 
was from Delano, CA. He was assigned to C Company, 1st Battalion, 22nd 
Infantry Regiment, Fort Hood, TX. He was a star football player at 
Delano High School and later played football at Cal Poly San Luis 
Obispo, where he attended on a full athletic scholarship. He was a 
captain for the Mustangs in 1999 and was named the team's Most 
Inspirational Player. He was commissioned as an Army officer in 2001. 
He was the second oldest of five sons of Mexican immigrants and the 
first in his family to graduate from college.
  Forty-one individuals who were from California or based in California 
have

[[Page S5474]]

died in the war. The people of California, as well as all Americans, 
mourn their loss.
  May these beautiful young Americans rest in peace.
  I continue to pray for those who have been injured in the war. I hope 
that they and the rest of our brave young men and women serving abroad 
will return home safely.
  Mr. GRASSLEY. Mr. President, I rise today to pay tribute to a fellow 
Iowan and a great American. It is with a sense of sadness but also 
pride that I must call to the attention of the Senate the sacrifice of 
Marine GySgt. Jeff Bohr of Ossian, IA, who was killed April 10, 2003, 
while participating in the liberation of Baghdad. Jeff Bohr is the 
second Iowan to have died in Operation Iraqi Freedom, and hopefully the 
last. Jeff Bohr served his country in the military for 20 years and had 
no reservations about putting his life on the line to protect American 
freedom and to give freedom to the Iraqi people. His loss will be felt 
throughout Iowa, and particularly in his hometown of Ossian. My 
thoughts and prayers are with Jeff's wife Lori as well as his father 
Eddie and mother Jeanette, his brothers, and all his family and 
friends. As they mourn his loss, they can know that they are not alone. 
Many people in Iowa and across the country share their grief and 
reflect on the life of Jeff Bohr, whether they knew him or not. At the 
same time, Jeff's family can be very proud of his service to his 
country. Jeff Bohr's sense of patriotic duty is a source of inspiration 
to us all, and his sacrifice will not be forgotten. He paid the 
ultimate price for our freedom and security. Words can scarcely convey 
the debt of gratitude that we all owe Jeff Bohr, but I want to take 
this opportunity to express my deepest respect and admiration for Jeff 
and what he did for America. Although his loss is tragic, Jeff Bohr 
died fighting for his country and he died a true patriot.

                          ____________________