[Congressional Record Volume 149, Number 122 (Monday, September 8, 2003)]
[Senate]
[Pages S11184-S11185]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                       HONORING OUR ARMED FORCES

  Mrs. LINCOLN. Mr. President, I today honor a true American hero from 
Arkansas--SGT James Sides of the U.S. Army. A native of Wynne, in east 
Arkansas, James recently returned from Iraq, where he was seriously 
wounded in action four months ago.
  On May 9, two Blackhawk ambulance helicopters with the 571st Medical 
Company were dispatched to rescue an 11-year old Iraqi child who had 
stepped on a land mine. As one helicopter landed to evacuate the boy, 
the other was circling above when it snagged on a power line while 
trying to avoid enemy fire from below. James a crew member, a flight 
medic, on the latter helicopter, which crashed into the Tigris River.
  Of the 4-member crew, 3 were killed. James was pulled from the 
wreckage after having been submerged in the water for an estimated five 
to seven minutes. He was unconscious and near death, with a broken bone 
in his upper arm and nerve damage. But thanks to swift emergency care 
from his fellow soldiers he was kept alive until he could be evacuated 
to a hospital. James was in a coma for a month afterward. He was 
hospitalized in Kuwait, Germany, and Washington, and spent time in a 
rehabilitation facility in Tampa.
  In July, SGT James Sides returned home to a richly deserved hero's 
welcome in Wynne. We're all glad to have him back home, but not more 
than his loving family: His parents, Carter and Leslie Sides; his wife, 
Rebecca Sides and his two sons, James Jr. and Devin.
  Upon his homecoming, James was interviewed by his local newspaper. He 
credited his survival to his faith and that of his family and friends. 
In his words: ``If it wasn't for prayers and the good Lord watching 
over me, I wouldn't be here. God took care of me. The prayers of 
everyone were answered and I just appreciate all of the prayers. 
There's no doubt in my mind that prayers get answered.'' He also noted 
that he's not a hero: ``If I'm a hero, where would that put the guys 
who are still over there? We can't forget them. They are the ones we 
should be thinking about.'' Well, James Sides may be too modest to call 
himself a hero, but the rest of us recognize him as just that--a man of 
tremendous courage, commitment, and patriotism whose service to his 
country has been exemplary.
  I ask that all my colleagues in the Senate join me in thanking SGT 
Sides for his service and for his sacrifice, which we can never 
sufficiently recognize or repay. We wish him a swift and full recovery. 
We wish all the best to him and his family.

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