[Congressional Record Volume 150, Number 104 (Tuesday, September 7, 2004)]
[Senate]
[Pages S8844-S8846]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                     SPECIALIST DONALD R. McCUNE II

  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 who grew up 
in South Bend, IN. SP Donald R. McCune II, 20 years old, died on August 
5 in a hospital in Landstuhl, Germany from injuries sustained after an 
explosive device detonated near his patrol vehicle in Balad, Iraq. With 
his entire life before him, Donald chose to risk everything to fight 
for the values Americans hold close to our hearts, in a land halfway 
around the world.
  Donald spent his early childhood through part of high school in South 
Bend before moving to Michigan. He joined the Army National Guard 
shortly thereafter, following a long family tradition of military 
service. According to family and friends, enlisting was something he 
felt he needed to do. Donald was assigned to the 1st Battalion, 161st 
Infantry Regiment, Army National Guard, Moses Lake, WA. Previously, he 
served with an Army Reserve unit based in Fraser for almost 2 years. 
This past spring, Donald was deployed to Iraq, where he bravely fought 
for 3 months before sacrificing his life for the worthy cause of 
freedom. Rick Monier, Donald's grandfather told the Detroit Free Press, 
``It was sad he had to pass away--he or any other soldier--but it was 
for freedom, and he believed in the cause.''
  Donald was the thirty-first Hoosier soldier to be killed while 
serving his country in Operation Iraqi Freedom. This brave young 
soldier leaves behind his mother, Darcy Lewis; his stepfather Benjamin 
Lewis; his father, Donald McCune; his sister, Casandra Karczewski; his 
brother, Josh McCune; his grandmother, Gladys Gilbert; his grandfather, 
Rick Monier; his step-grandmother, Dianne Ronier; and his maternal 
great-grandmother, Beth Gilbert.
  Today, I join Donald's family, his friends and all Americans in 
mourning his death. While we struggle to bear our sorrow over this 
tremendous loss, 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 
Donald, a memory that will burn brightly during these continuing days 
of conflict and grief.
  Donald was known for his dedicated spirit and his love of country. 
When looking back on the life of her late son and his plans for the 
future, Darcy told the Detroit Free Press, ``He knew the risks of 
fighting and had even talked about returning to Iraq after his stint 
was over and doing security work.'' Today and always, Donald 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 Donald'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

[[Page S8845]]

certain that the impact of Donald's actions will live on far longer 
than any record of these words.
  It is my sad duty to enter the name of Donald R. McCune II in the 
official record of the United States 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 Donald'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 Donald.


                   Private First Class Luis A. Perez

  Mr. President, I also rise today with a heavy heart and deep sense of 
gratitude to honor the life of a brave young man who grew up in East 
Chicago, IN. PFC Luis A. Perez, 19 years old, died on August 16 when 
the fuel truck he was driving struck a land mine in Iraq. With his 
entire life before him, Luis chose to risk everything to fight for the 
values Americans hold close to our hearts, in a land halfway around the 
world.
  Luis spent his early childhood in East Chicago where he attended 
McKinley Elementary School before moving to Hammond and attending 
Morton High School. He joined the Army Reserves shortly after 
graduating from high school, following in his father's footsteps of 
military service. Luis was assigned to the 223rd Transportation 
Company, United States Reserve, Norristown, PA. This summer, Luis was 
deployed to Kuwait and from there was sent to Iraq, where he bravely 
fought before sacrificing his life for the worthy cause of freedom.
  Luis was the thirty-third Hoosier soldier to be killed while serving 
his country in Operation Iraqi Freedom. This brave young soldier leaves 
behind his wife, Theresa; his mother, Maria Miranda; his father, Jose; 
his grandmother, Clara Madrigal; and two sisters.
  Today, I join Luis' family, his friends and all Americans in mourning 
his death. While we struggle to bear our sorrow over this tremendous 
loss, 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 Luis, a memory 
that will burn brightly during these continuing days of conflict and 
grief.
  Luis was known for his dedicated spirit and his love of country. 
According to family and friends, enlisting was something Luis had 
wanted to do since he was very young. His grandmother, Clara Madrigal 
told the Times of Northwest Indiana that she remembers Luis as a boy 
saying that he wanted to grow up and be a ``green man.'' When Clara 
inquired as to what a ``green man'' was, her grandson responded, ``A 
soldier, like my father.'' Aside from being a soldier, Luis enjoyed 
playing video games and basketball and writing poetry. Today and 
always, Luis 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 Luis' 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 Luis' actions will live on far longer than any 
record of these words.
  It is my sad duty to enter the name of Luis A. Perez 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 Luis' 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 Luis.


                        sergeant david m. heath

  Mr. President, it is with a heavy heart and deep sense of gratitude 
to honor the life of a brave young man from LaPorte, IN. SGT David M. 
Heath, 20 years old, died on August 16 in the Sadr City district of 
Baghdad when his patrol came under a small arms and rocket-propelled 
grenade attack. With his entire life before him, David chose to risk 
everything to fight for the values Americans hold close to our hearts, 
in a land halfway around the world.
  David attended New Prairie High School until 10th grade before moving 
to nearby LaPorte. There, he met his wife Donna, and in September 2001 
decided to join the military to support his family and make his father 
proud. After his first 10-month assignment in Iraq in 2003, David 
returned home but decided to re-enlist expecting to move to Germany. 
Instead, his orders were to report to another tour of duty in Iraq. 
David's stepfather, Ed Modjeska, told the Laporte Herald-Argus that 
David realized his second trip overseas would be dangerous, ``but he 
knew he had to go, it was his job. . . .  He wanted to serve his 
country.''
  David was the 32nd Hoosier soldier to be killed while serving his 
country in Operation Iraqi Freedom. This brave young soldier leaves 
behind his wife Donna Heath; his son Derek; and his stepdaughter, 
Angela Riffel. May David'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 David's family, his friends and the entire LaPorte 
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 
David, a memory that will burn brightly during these continuing days of 
conflict and grief.
  David, a fourth-generation soldier, was known for his dedication to 
family and his love of country. When looking back on David's life, 
family friend Robin Dingman told WSBT-TV of South Bend that ``He loved 
his kids, he loved his wife, he love NASCAR, but that was a given. As 
bad as this is, he died nobly, and that is a great honor.'' Today and 
always, David 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 David'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 David's actions will live on far longer than any 
record of these words.
  It is my sad duty to enter the name of David M. Heath 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 David'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 David.


                   Petty Officer 3rd Class Eric Knott

  Mr. HAGEL. Mr. President, I rise to express my sympathy over the loss 
of Eric Knott of Grand Island, NE, a Petty Officer 3rd Class in the 
U.S. Navy. Petty Officer Knott was killed in Iraq on September 4 in a 
mortar attack while working at a construction site. He was 21 years 
old.

[[Page S8846]]

  Petty Officer Knott will be remembered as a proud individual 
dedicated to serving his country. He joined the U.S. Navy in 2001 after 
graduating from Grand Island Senior High School and became a Navy 
Seabee so he could learn specialty welding and help others. Petty 
Officer Knott spent about 9 months in Iraq last year and was recently 
redeployed in August. He had just been promoted and was overseeing a 
three-person unit.
  Petty Officer Knott is survived by his parents Randy Knott of Grand 
Island and Vera Thorpe of Hastings; step-mother, Teri Knott of Grand 
Island; step-father Steve Thorpe of Hastings; brothers William and Tim 
of Seward; sister Angela of Lincoln; and grandparents Lyle and Arlene 
Knott and Masel Anderson, all of Grand Island. Our thoughts and prayers 
are with them at this difficult time. America is proud of Eric Knott's 
service and mourns his loss.
  For his service, bravery, and sacrifice, I ask my colleagues to join 
me and all Americans in honoring Petty Officer 3rd Class Eric Knott.

                          ____________________