[Congressional Record Volume 150, Number 51 (Tuesday, April 20, 2004)]
[Senate]
[Pages S4151-S4152]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
HONORING OUR ARMED FORCES
Pvt Noah L. Boye
Mr. HAGEL. Mr. President, I rise to express my sympathy over the loss
of PVT Noah L. Boye, a Nebraskan serving in the United States Marine
Corps. Boye was killed on April 13 when he came under enemy fire near
Fallujah, Iraq. He was 21 years old. Boye served in the 1st Battalion,
5th Marine Regiment, 1st Marine Division, 1st Marine Expeditionary
Force based in Camp Pendleton, CA.
A resident of Grand Island, NE, Private Boye was a proud and
dedicated soldier who was committed to his country. Private Boye
enlisted in the Marine Corps when he was 17 years old. He died
courageously performing his duty. Our thoughts and prayers are with his
family at this difficult time. All of America mourns Noah Boye and is
proud of his service.
Private Boye and thousands of brave American service men and women
confront danger every day in Iraq and their tremendous sacrifices must
never be taken for granted or forgotten. For his service, bravery, and
sacrifice, I ask my colleagues to join me and all Americans in honoring
PVT Noah L. Boye.
Mr. NELSON of Nebraska. Mr. President, PVT Noah Boye was a dedicated
Marine who served his country with honor. He joined the Marine Corps
right after he graduated from high school in 2001. He was deployed to
Kuwait in February 2003 and was part of the initial coalition forces
that helped bring down Saddam Hussein in March. Private Boye spent 4
months in Iraq that year and redeployed to Iraq last month. He is
described as a caring person who was always there for everybody and
anybody. His family remembers him as the life of the party and a
genuine and gentle man. The last contact he had with his mother was a
letter that she received from him 3 weeks ago that was dated March 7.
When his mother showed concern about her son going to Iraq, he told
her, ``Mom, that's my job. It's what I have to do.'' Private Boye
fought for his country with no regrets and with great honor.
I would like to express my deepest sympathy for the Boye Family, and
I know all Nebraskans join me in remembering and honoring Noah's
contributions to Grand Island and his sacrifice on behalf of his
country. Private Boye's sacrifice will forever remind this Nation of
the danger that comes with the duty to protect our Nation's interests
and the freedoms of others around the world. As a nation, we are
grateful to Marines like Private Boye who make the ultimate sacrifice
so that all Americans can live in freedom.
Sp Dennis Morgan
Mr. HAGEL. Mr. President, I rise to express my sympathy over the loss
of SP Dennis Morgan, a Nebraskan serving with the South Dakota National
Guard. Specialist Morgan was killed on April 17 south of Baghdad, Iraq
when a roadside bomb exploded as a convoy passed. He was 22 years old.
Specialist Morgan was a member of the 153rd Engineer Battalion based in
Winner, South Dakota.
Specialist Morgan, of Valentine, NE, worked to protect others by
finding and disarming explosive devices along the roads. He died
courageously performing his duty.
Specialist Morgan is survived by his wife, Cassie; his mother, Diane
Mangelson; and his grandmother, Doris Morgan. Our thoughts and prayers
are with all of them at this difficult time. All of America mourns
Dennis Morgan and is proud of his service.
Specialist Morgan and thousands of brave American service men and
women confront danger every day in Iraq and their tremendous sacrifices
must never be taken for granted or forgotten. For his service, bravery,
and sacrifice, I ask my colleagues to join me and all Americans in
honoring SP Dennis Morgan.
PFC ANTHONY P. ROBERTS
Mr. CARPER. Mr. President, I would like to set aside a few moments
today to reflect on the life of Marine PFC Anthony P. Roberts. Anthony
epitomized the best of our country's brave men and women who fought to
free Iraq and to secure a new democracy in the Middle East. He
exhibited unwavering courage, dutiful service to his country and, above
all else, honor. In the way he lived his life--and how we remember
him--Anthony reminds each of us how good we can be.
[[Page S4152]]
A resident of Middletown, Anthony's passing has deeply affected the
community. A 2003 graduate of Middletown High School, Anthony was the
son of Emma Roberts and the late William Roberts, Jr. Friends, family,
and school officials recalled Anthony Roberts as a bright young man who
saw military service as a way to give something back to his country. He
viewed the Marine Corps as an opportunity to get away from a small
town, meet new people, and start a career.
Anthony always had a strong interest in the military. He was a member
of Middletown High School's Air Force Junior ROTC program. His
participation in that program enabled me to meet him and many of his
fellow cadets several years ago when I visited their high school.
Friends and family remember Anthony as standing extra tall after
earning his Marine Corps uniform.
After graduating from school, Anthony underwent basic training at
Camp Lejeune, NC, before being stationed at Camp Pendleton, CA. Anthony
became a member of the 2nd Battalion, 4th Marine Regiment. He died in
fighting around Ramadi.
Anthony was a remarkable and well-respected young soldier. His
friends and family remember him as an honorable man. He enjoyed
spending time in Philadelphia, writing rap music lyrics, reading
automobile magazines, and playing computer games.
I rise today to commemorate Anthony, to celebrate his life, and to
offer his family our support and our deepest sympathy on their tragic
loss.
1LT ROBERT HENDERSON II
Mr. BUNNING. Mr. President, today I would like to take the
opportunity to honor the service of 1LT Robert Henderson II of Alvaton,
KY. His death while performing his duty to his country is a great loss
to us all.
On April 17, 2004, LT Henderson was leading a convoy near Diwaniyah.
As they were passing through, they were ambushed and LT Henderson was
wounded. He later died at a field hospital. I offer my sincerest
condolences to LT Henderson's family and loved ones.
His service with the Kentucky Army National Guard's 2123rd
Transportation Company was exemplary and duly appreciated. Lieutenant
Henderson, according to reports, showed bravery by continuing to drive
his lead vehicle toward safety after he was wounded. As one of the U.S.
Senators from Kentucky, I know that Lieutenant Henderson served as a
fine example of what it means to be a true patriot and an American of
the highest caliber.
We are humbled and honored by the sacrifice Lieutenant Henderson has
made. His loss reminds us of the heavy cost exacted for our freedom. We
must remember that the American way of life has been made possible by
the bravery of men and women like Lieutenant Henderson. When freedom
has been challenged many like him have answered the call to arms. We
must never forget that.
ARMY SERGEANT DAVID MC KEEVER
Mr. NELSON of Nebraska. Mr. President, SGT David McKeever was a
soldier who fought honorably for his country. He joined the Army in
1997, right after graduation from South Park High School in South
Buffalo, NY. Before going to Iraq to try to help keep peace, he served
proudly in Bosnia. He just recently reenlisted to serve his country. He
was also approved for a promotion from army specialist to the rank of
sergeant just before his death. This well-deserved honor was given to
him posthumously.
David had 15 days remaining before he would have left Iraq for
Germany, and then return home. His family describes him as a dedicated
soldier, proud American, and hero who was fully aware of the high cost
of freedom.
SGT David McKeever will be greatly missed and our thoughts and
prayers will be with his family and friends. He leaves behind a wife, a
one-year-old son, his parents and his four sisters. As a nation, we are
grateful to David McKeever and other soldiers like him who make the
ultimate sacrifice so that others can live free.
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