[Congressional Record Volume 151, Number 32 (Wednesday, March 16, 2005)]
[Senate]
[Page S2842]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                       HONORING OUR ARMED FORCES


                    Private First Class Landon Giles

  Mrs. LINCOLN. Mr. President. I rise today to honor the life of Landon 
S. Giles. Private First Class Giles was a passionate and free-spirited 
young man who lived his life with an admirable sense of adventure and 
courage. He was also a brave soldier who proudly and honorably served 
his Nation in uniform. In doing so, he gave his life while improving 
the lives of those he saw as less fortunate while helping to bring 
freedom and hope to a land that has known only oppression and fear. The 
way he lived his life is a testament to the kind of person he was. The 
State of Arkansas and our Nation will mourn his loss but will remain 
forever grateful of the service he rendered on behalf of us all.
  PFC Giles was born and raised in the southwestern Arkansas town of 
Arkadelphia. From an early age, his sense of adventure and his 
athleticism would contribute to the way he spent his childhood. If he 
wasn't playing golf, football or baseball, he was most likely hiking or 
on a hunting trip with friends and family. Above all, PFC Giles loved 
to travel, where he could experience foreign cultures, see new places 
and meet new people. His father's job required an extensive amount of 
travel overseas and it allowed him the opportunity to do just that.
  Through travels with his father, PFC Giles had the opportunity to see 
much of the world. When he was just 12, he became a certified scuba 
diver while diving at Sipadan, an island off the coast of Malaysia. 
Additionally, he would go on to experience memorable journeys such as 
climbing volcanoes in the South Pacific, deep-sea fishing off the coast 
of Australia, surfing in Hawaii, and riding an elephant through parts 
of Thailand. It was a rare privilege of which he took full advantage. 
It was an adventure that required courage and imagination and he loved 
every minute of it. Such was his life.
  Wherever that life took him, his friendly personality and outgoing 
nature provided him with a natural gift for making friends quickly and 
easily. At the same time, his work ethic, dedication, and discipline 
earned him the respect of his teachers and coaches. Throughout his time 
at Arkadelphia High School, PFC Giles would call upon these traits when 
he spoke of entering the military. Shortly before his graduation, he 
joined the United States Army through their delayed-entry program. 
Since he had not yet reached the age of 18, he asked his mother, Kim, 
to fill out the necessary paperwork. Although she disapproved of his 
decision, she also saw how determined and passionate he felt about it 
and ultimately complied.
  A month after his graduation last May, PFC Giles entered the Army as 
an indirect fire infantryman, assigned to the Army's 3rd Infantry based 
in Fort Stewart, GA. The day he was deployed to the Middle East for 
Operation Iraqi Freedom, his sister, Jennifer, told him she didn't want 
him to go to war. In a gesture befitting of who he was, he replied 
simply ``it's better I go and not come home than someone with a wife 
and children.'' In Iraq, his courage was surpassed only by his 
selflessness. He often spoke of his heart-felt belief that the Iraqis 
were being treated unjustly and had no one to fight for their rights. 
He became a champion of this cause and while proudly serving his 
country, was also proud to help the people of Iraq in their fight for 
freedom. Tragically, after serving in Iraq for only a few weeks, he was 
killed when an improvised explosive device detonated near his patrol on 
February 26.
  Back in the community he called home, countless friends and 
neighbors, as well as strangers who simply wanted to pay their 
respects, lined the procession to his burial service. Many held small 
American flags in their hands, others simply held their hands over 
their heart. The community's outpouring of grief was tempered only by 
its outpouring of appreciation. Their fallen hero had returned home and 
it was readily apparent that his sacrifice would not soon be forgotten.
  Landon Giles was an inspiration, not only because of the way he lived 
his life, but because of who he was. He was a loving son, brother, and 
friend, and he was also a hero. Although his time with us was way too 
short, his legacy will forever live on in the example he set and the 
many lives he touched. In the words of his mother Kim, ``I want him to 
be remembered as a strong, brave, compassionate person who put his life 
on the line to defend our country and help those less fortunate than 
us.''
  My thoughts and prayers go out to all those who knew and loved this 
special young man.

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