[Congressional Record Volume 150, Number 96 (Tuesday, July 13, 2004)]
[Senate]
[Page S8022]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
HONORING OUR ARMED FORCES
Sergeant First Class Linda Tarango-Griess
Mr. HAGEL. Mr. President, I express my sympathy over the loss of
Linda Tarango-Griess of Sutton, NE, a Sergeant First Class in the
Nebraska Army National Guard. SFC Tarango-Griess was killed on July 11,
2004 near the city of Samarra in Iraq when a roadside bomb exploded
near her convoy. She was 33 years old.
SFC Tarango-Griess was originally from North Platte and graduated
from Kearney High School. She was a full-time soldier for 14 years in
the Nebraska Army National Guard and was deployed to Iraq in February
of this year. Tarango-Griess was assigned to the 267th Ordnance Company
based in Lincoln and was responsible for direct support maintenance for
coalition forces in the region, including the installation of
additional armor protection on military Humvee vehicles to make them
safer. Tarango-Griess was one of thousands of brave American service
women and men serving in Iraq.
SFC Tarango-Griess is survived by her parents, Augustin and Juanita
Tarango of North Platte; and husband, SSGT Douglas Griess, of Sutton.
Our thoughts and prayers are with them at this difficult time. America
is proud of Linda Tarango-Griess' service and mourns her loss.
For her service, bravery, and sacrifice, I ask my colleagues to join
me and all Americans in honoring SFC Tarango-Griess.
Sergeant Jeremy Fischer
Mr. HAGEL. Mr. President, I express my sympathy over the loss of
Jeremy Fischer of Lincoln, NE, a Sergeant in the Nebraska Army National
Guard. SGT Fischer was killed on July 11, 2004 near the city of Samarra
in Iraq when a roadside bomb exploded near his convoy. He was 26 years
old.
SGT Fischer will be remembered as a hard-working, positive
individual. He joined the Nebraska Army National Guard in 1999 and was
deployed to Iraq in February of this year. He was assigned to the 267th
Ordnance Company based in Lincoln and was responsible for direct
support maintenance for coalition forces in the region, including the
installation of additional armor protection on military Humvee vehicles
to make them safer. Fischer was one of thousands of brave American
service men and women serving in Iraq.
SGT Fischer is survived by his parents, James Fischer of Hastings and
Kathy Fischer of Lincoln; and wife of nearly 8 months, Sarah Fischer,
of Lincoln. Our thoughts and prayers are with them at this difficult
time. America is proud of Jeremy Fischer's service and mourns his loss.
For his service, bravery, and sacrifice, I ask my colleagues to join
me and all Americans in honoring SGT Jeremy Fischer.
Sergeant Robert E. Colvill, Jr.
Mr. BAYH. Mr. President, I rise today with a heavy heart and deep
sense of gratitude to honor the life of a brave young man from
Anderson, IN. Sgt. Robert E. Colvill, 31 years old, died on July 8 in
Samarra, Iraq when the building he was in came under attack. With his
entire life before him, Rob chose to risk everything to fight for the
values Americans hold close to our hearts, in a land halfway around the
world.
Rob graduated from Madison Heights High School in 1991 and joined the
Marines shortly thereafter, following a long family tradition of
military service. Rob dedicated 8 years of his life to active duty
before retiring from the Marines. According to family and friends, it
did not take long for Rob to realize that civilian life was not for
him. After one year, he enlisted in the U.S. Army and was assigned to
Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 1st Battalion, 26th Infantry
Regiment, 1st Infantry Division, Schweinfurt, Germany. This past
spring, Rob was deployed to Iraq, where he bravely fought for 4 months
before sacrificing his life for the worthy cause of freedom. Robert
Colvill Sr. told the Anderson Herald-Bulletin that his son, Rob, ``was
doing what he wanted to do and did his best. He was trained for this.
It was his calling.''
Rob was the thirtieth Hoosier soldier to be killed while serving his
country in Operation Iraqi Freedom. This brave young soldier leaves
behind his father, Robert; his wife, Chris; his two sons, Travis and
Zachary; and his stepdaughter, Suzanne. May Rob's children grow up
knowing that their father gave his life so that young Iraqis will some
day know the freedom they enjoy.
Today, I join Rob's family, his friends and the entire Anderson
community in mourning his death. While we struggle to bear our sorrow
over his death, we can also take pride in the example he set, bravely
fighting to make the world a safer place. It is his courage and
strength of character that people will remember when they think of Rob,
a memory that will burn brightly during these continuing days of
conflict and grief.
Rob was known for his dedicated spirit and his love of country. When
looking back on the life of this late student and former athlete,
Madison Heights High School Track Coach John McCord, told the Anderson
Herald-Bulletin, ``He was the kind of kid you liked to have on any
team. He always gave his best effort. He always practiced and trained
hard and competed to the best of his abilities.'' Today and always, Rob
will be remembered by family members, friends and fellow Hoosiers as a
true American hero and we honor the sacrifice he made while dutifully
serving his country.
As I search for words to do justice in honoring Rob's sacrifice, I am
reminded of President Lincoln's remarks as he addressed the families of
the fallen soldiers in Gettysburg: ``We cannot dedicate, we cannot
consecrate, we cannot hallow this ground. The brave men, living and
dead, who struggled here, have consecrated it, far above our poor power
to add or detract. The world will little note nor long remember what we
say here, but it can never forget what they did here.'' This statement
is just as true today as it was nearly 150 years ago, as I am certain
that the impact of Rob's actions will live on far longer than any
record of these words.
It is my sad duty to enter the name of Robert E. Colvill in the
official record of the U.S. Senate for his service to this country and
for his profound commitment to freedom, democracy and peace. When I
think about this just cause in which we are engaged, and the
unfortunate pain that comes with the loss of our heroes, I hope that
families like Rob's can find comfort in the words of the prophet Isaiah
who said, ``He will swallow up death in victory; and the Lord God will
wipe away tears from off all faces.''
May God grant strength and peace to those who mourn, and may God be
with all of you, as I know He is with Rob.
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