[Congressional Record Volume 151, Number 51 (Monday, April 25, 2005)]
[Senate]
[Pages S4177-S4178]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




               SILVER STAR IN ILLINOIS ARMY RESERVE UNIT

  Mr. DURBIN. Mr. President, I would like to say a few words about two 
Army Reserve soldiers from Illinois I had the pleasure of meeting 
recently: SPC Jeremy Church and LT Matthew Brown.
  Both of these soldiers fought last year in a battle that remains the 
largest enemy ambush of American troops in the war in Iraq. The battle 
occurred on Good Friday last year, April 9, 2004.
  The 724th Transportation Company of Bartonville, IL, was taking part 
in a convoy escort operation delivering fuel to Baghdad International 
Airport when it was ambushed by insurgents. More than 150 enemy 
fighters poured heavy weapons fire onto the convoy.
  Lieutenant Brown was the convoy commander. Specialist Church was his 
driver. In the first minutes of the attack, Lieutenant Brown was 
wounded, losing his eye. Specialist Church remained calm, 
simultaneously treating his wounded lieutenant, driving his damaged 
vehicle, and firing his rifle, one-handed, at the enemy.
  Specialist Church drove to safety, dropped off the wounded Lieutenant 
Brown, rallied some assistance, and then drove back into danger, the 
kill zone, to help rescue, extract, his buddies who were still trapped 
under fire. He loaded casualties onto a truck until it was full, then 
sent the wounded soldiers to safety while he remained behind to 
continue the fight, taking cover behind destroyed vehicles.
  For his actions that day, Specialist Church was awarded the Silver 
Star, the third-highest honor the United States can offer for valor in 
combat. He is the first and only U.S. Army Reserve soldier to win this 
medal in this conflict. Lieutenant Brown was awarded the Bronze Star.

[[Page S4178]]

  In that same battle, PFC Gregory Goodrich was killed. SPC Keith 
Maupin was captured and remains missing in action.
  Members of the National Guard and Reserve train on weekends and 
during 2-week annual training periods to prepare for that day when 
their country might call upon them to step away from families and 
civilian careers in order to fight America's wars.
  These citizen-soldiers were ready to do that. The call came. They 
answered it. Now they have borne the terrible burden of battle. Gregory 
Goodrich gave his life. Keith Maupin remains missing. Matthew Brown has 
lost an eye and, because of that, he will probably lose his job as a 
Peoria, IL, law enforcement officer. Jeremy Church risked life and limb 
to save others and to vigorously fight back the attackers. All of these 
men exemplify the finest traditions of America's citizen-soldiers. We 
honor their service.

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