[Congressional Record Volume 150, Number 102 (Wednesday, July 21, 2004)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1453]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




               IN MEMORIAM--SPECIALIST CRAIG STUART FRANK

                                 ______
                                 

                       HON. CAROLYN C. KILPATRICK

                              of michigan

                    in the house of representatives

                        Wednesday, July 21, 2004

  Ms. KILPATRICK. Mr. Speaker, it is with great sorrow that I take this 
floor to pay tribute to one of Michigan's fallen sons, Army Specialist 
Craig Stuart Frank. Spc. Frank was a military police officer assigned 
to the 1775th Military Police Company out of Taylor, Michigan and 
deployed in Iraq.
  Spc. Frank was on assignment guarding a truck convoy mission from 
Kuwait to a location north of Baghdad when he and his comrades came 
under a rocket propelled grenade attack. It was on this mission that he 
gave his last full measure of devotion.
  Long before his deployment to Iraq, Spc. Frank was a hero to his 
family, Timothy and Linda Frank, and his friends of Lincoln Park, 
Michigan. He joined the military to first serve his country, but also 
to take advantage of the benefits to pay off his school loans. His 
father said that, ``he didn't want to burden us with the payments.'' 
Craig was studying education at Eastern Michigan University and his 
goal was to become a history teacher. He also showed an interest in 
becoming a firefighter.
  Craig was apparently an avid reader. He brought with him to Iraq 15 
books when he was shipped out. His bookishness was a cause for much 
teasing from his fellow guardsmen of the 1775th.
  Spc. Frank's service in the Michigan National Guard and the way he 
conducted himself in uniform and in battle teaches us a lot about 
courage. Serving his country was a great source of pride to Craig, and 
he died on duty in the field of battle.
  My thoughts, prayers and tears are with the Frank family and the lady 
of Craig's affection, Ms. Connie Walker. Craig answered the call to 
duty and served his country and the State of Michigan with valor. The 
Army has a tradition of ``No man left behind.'' In that tradition, the 
story and memory of Spc. Frank will not be left behind. They continue 
to live on in the thoughts and stories of families and friends.
  To the Frank family, I wish to borrow from Abraham Lincoln's letter 
to Mrs. Bixby: ``I pray that our heavenly Father may assuage the 
anguish of your bereavement, and leave you on the cherished memory of 
the loved, lost and solemn pride that must be yours to have laid so 
costly a sacrifice upon the altar of freedom.''
  On behalf of a grateful nation, please accept our gratitude and 
deepest sorrow for your sacrifice.

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