[Congressional Record Volume 149, Number 151 (Friday, October 24, 2003)]
[Senate]
[Pages S13188-S13189]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




            ARMY PRIVATE FIRST CLASS BRANDEN F. OBERLEITNER

  Mr. DeWINE. Mr. President, this past May, I came to the Senate Floor 
to commemorate the 58th Anniversary of the end of World War II in 
Europe. I had been asked by the surviving members of an Army Company--
Company K of the 409th Regiment of the 103rd Infantry Division--to fly 
a flag over our U.S. Capitol building in honor of those in the company 
who died on the field of battle--those who did not return home--those 
who Bill Gleason, a Private in K Company, described this way:

       Some in our Company were denied the chance to reach old 
     age. They didn't make it to adulthood. They never were old 
     enough to vote in an election. They died then--there in 
     France or Germany. . . . They are frozen in time as they 
     were--forever youthful.

  I have again flown flags over our U.S. Capitol and am here today on 
the Floor of the United States Senate to pay tribute to another 
soldier--another soldier who did not make it home--another soldier who 
will remain forever youthful.
  Private First Class Branden F. Oberleitner was born on June 18, 1982, 
in Columbus, OH. He grew up in nearby Worthington, OH, and graduated 
from Thomas Worthington High School in 2001, just two short years ago. 
He was a beloved member of his class.
  As a kid growing up, many of his friends and family described Branden 
as ``ornery''--as an independent kid who liked to do things his own 
way. He didn't feel a need to ``follow the crowd.'' He enjoyed looking 
for crabs with his friends and taking trips to Kentucky to explore in 
some of the local caves.
  Branden valued friendship. Once you were Branden's friend, you were 
always his friend.
  He was loyal.
  Branden had an innate ability to fix things. He could intuitively 
find solutions to problems. Branden was a gifted mechanic and loved to 
work on cars--especially the 1988 Delta Oldsmobile that seemed to 
occupy a permanent place in the family driveway. Branden's friend and 
classmate, Tyler Louk, remembers him elbow-deep in grease working on 
that car night after night after night.
  Branden dreamed of opening a bike shop someday with one of his 
friends. They were going to fix Harley's.
  During high school, Branden started taking firefighting classes at 
the Delaware Area Career Center. He met a man there named Keith Luce, a 
retired firefighter and now a firefighter and EMT trainer, who had been 
an airborne trooper in Vietnam. Keith became an important role model, 
mentor, and trusted friend. The two developed a tight bond. They had a 
great deal in common and just seemed to speak the same language. 
Branden looked up to Keith--he respected him.
  With Keith's support and encouragement, Branden thrived in his 
firefighter training courses. He took to it. He was adept at it. He had 
found something that really interested him and something that he was 
good at and enjoyed--something he could make a career out of when he 
was finished with high school.
  Branden's life was taking on whole new dimensions. He was becoming a 
grounded, disciplined young man, who learned to take time to think 
things through.
  He became focused and developed a sense of responsibility for himself 
and an appreciation for the needs of others. He wanted to make 
something of his life--he wanted to help others--he wanted to be of 
service to others.
  The tragic terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001, brought further 
clarity to Branden's life and his plans for the future. Angered by the 
vicious attacks and compelled to protect others from future terrorist 
strikes, Branden enlisted in the United States Army. He joined B 
Company, 2nd Battalion, 502nd Infantry Regiment of the 101st Airborne 
Assault Division, based out of Fort Campbell, KY.
  The call to arms resonated with Branden. ``That's all he wanted to 
do,'' said friend Kevin Earhart, who worked with Branden at a local gas 
station before he enlisted. Military service became his passion. He was 
a good soldier--regimented and resolute. He quickly earned the respect 
of his unit. Known as ``Obie,'' Branden served as an infantryman and 
back-up medic, where he was regarded as being both tactically and 
technically proficient. All in his unit endorsed his application for 
Officer Candidate School. His Captain, William Riley, described him as 
``a shining example of what a soldier

[[Page S13189]]

should be.'' Family friend, William Owen described him as ``a model 
soldier--a soldier others could count on, turn to, and laugh with.''
  This model soldier lost his life on June 5, 2003, when a rifle-
propelled grenade hit his Humvee near the Sunni city of Fallujah, about 
30 miles west of Baghdad. Branden and the rest of his Division were 
working to ensure the safety of U.S. peacekeeping forces on the ground 
in Iraq.
  He was 20 years old.
  As William Owen said at Branden's memorial service, ``He has a Bronze 
Star, a Purple Heart, and the appreciation of all of us because he 
showed that Americans are not selfish, but selfless.''
  Branden Oberleitner was indeed selfless.
  He defines honor.
  He defines bravery.
  He defines love of country.
  As his father, Freeman Carmack said:

       It was my honor to have watched him grow into the man he 
     became: A loving brother, son, and proud member of the 101st 
     Airborne Assault.

  Branden Oberleitner grabbed a lot out of life in an all too short 
amount of time.
  He lived life well. He it lived deeply. He lived it fully.
  My thoughts and prayers remain with Branden's family--his mother, 
with whom he was especially close, Iris Oberleitner; his father 
Freeman; brothers Lawrence and Andrew; sister Grace; grandparents Mr. 
and Mrs. Frank Carmack; and grandmother Dora Fassler.
  I thank the Chair. I yield the floor. I suggest the absence of a 
quorum.
  The PRESIDENT pro tempore. The clerk will call the roll.
  The 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. Chafee). Without objection, it is so 
ordered.
  Mr. McCONNELL. Mr. President, are we now moving, under a previous 
order, to the Foreign Operations bill?
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. Yes.

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