[Congressional Record Volume 151, Number 22 (Wednesday, March 2, 2005)]
[Senate]
[Page S1927]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                       HONORING OUR ARMED FORCES


                     Specialist Dakotah L. Gooding

  Mr. GRASSLEY. Mr. President, I speak today in remembrance of an Iowa 
soldier who has fallen in service to his country. Specialist Dakotah L. 
Gooding, a member of the C Troop, 5th Squadron, 7th Cavalry Regiment, 
3rd Infantry Division, died on the 13th of February in Balad, Iraq when 
his vehicle overturned into a canal. He was 21 years old.
  SPC Gooding grew up in Keokuk, IA and eventually moved to the Des 
Moines area. He attended the Scavo Alternative School and Lincoln High 
School. In the fall of 2000, at the age of 17, Dakotah fulfilled a 
life-long dream of joining the U.S. Army, following in the footsteps of 
many family members. He had served in the United States and Korea 
before going to Iraq. SPC Gooding came to Iraq as part of an Army 
Special Security Force that helped with voter protection in the recent 
historic democratic elections.
  A cousin mentioned that SPC Gooding knew he had a mission to protect 
those around the world and those at home. SPC Gooding's mission was a 
noble one, and he carried it out with the courage and dignity that are 
so characteristic of our American soldiers. For his dedication and 
sacrifice, Dakotah deserves our respect and admiration. For family and 
friends who have felt this loss most deeply, I offer my sincere 
sympathy. My prayers go out to his wife, Angela, his mother, Judith, 
his two sisters, and his many other family and friends.
  May we always remember with pride and appreciation Specialist Dakotah 
L. Gooding and all those Americans who have gone before him in service 
to their country.

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