[Congressional Record Volume 150, Number 66 (Wednesday, May 12, 2004)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E830-E831]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




        HONORING U.S. ARMY PRIVATE FIRST CLASS SHAWN C. EDWARDS

                                 ______
                                 

                           HON. HENRY J. HYDE

                              of illinois

                    in the house of representatives

                        Wednesday, May 12, 2004

  Mr. HYDE. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to pay tribute to U.S. Army 
Private First Class Shawn C. Edwards, of Bensenville, Illinois. PFC 
Edwards was killed on April 23, 2004 when his convoy hit a roadside 
bomb in Samarra, Iraq. He had been serving in Iraq since February.
  PFC Edwards was a junior in high school when he made the adult 
decision to enlist in the U.S. Army. He told his father he could use

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the discipline, and he didn't want his family worrying about paying for 
his education. He began his service after graduating from York 
Community High School in Elmhurst in 2002. He was assigned to the 121st 
Signal Battalion, Ist Infantry Division, based in Kitzingen, Germany. 
Like many of our soldiers, PFC Edwards had plans for the time when he 
would come back home. He was going to return to college. He loved 
computers and tinkering, and demonstrated his expertise in electronics 
during his brief Army service. At the time of his death, he was setting 
up cellular communication networks in support of Operation Iraqi 
Freedom.
  PFC Edwards carried on a proud family tradition when he enlisted in 
the military. His father is a veteran of the Vietnam War, and his 
grandfather served in World War II.
  PFC Edwards was only a young man of 20 when he made the ultimate 
sacrifice in service to his country. Our deepest sympathies go to his 
beloved family--his mother Elizabeth, his father Glen, and his sister 
Robin--as well as to his other family and friends. The entire community 
joins in mourning Shawn's loss.
  We honor the memory of PFC Shawn C. Edwards and the dedication and 
bravery with which he served our nation and the people of Iraq.

                          ____________________