[Congressional Record Volume 151, Number 104 (Wednesday, July 27, 2005)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1635]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                      THE DEATH OF RYAN KOVACICEK

                                 ______
                                 

                            HON. TIM MURPHY

                            of pennsylvania

                    in the house of representatives

                        Wednesday, July 27, 2005

  Mr. MURPHY. Mr. Speaker, I would like to take this time to pay 
tribute to Lance Corporal Ryan J. Kovacicek of Washington, 
Pennsylvania, part of the 18th Congressional District. Lance Corporal 
Kovacicek was killed July 10th from a mortar attack in the town of Hit, 
located in western Iraq. He died alongside Sergeant Joseph P. Goodrich, 
another member of his unit from Pittsburgh.
  Just 22 years old, Lance Corporal Kovacicek was a member of Kilo 
Company, a Marine Forces Reserve unit based in Moundsville, West 
Virginia. Like so many other young men and women in our reserves, 
Kovacicek was a student. A junior at Indiana University of 
Pennsylvania, he was studying criminology and played on the hockey 
team. He also lettered in hockey all four years he attended Bishop 
Canevin Catholic High School.
  Following in a long tradition of military service in his family, 
Lance Corporal Kovacicek enlisted in the reserves to help defend his 
country. His father, Joseph, served in Vietnam as a Marine, and his 
grandfather, Paul Karpan, fought with the Army in Europe during World 
War II. Understanding the true meaning of patriotism, Lance Corporal 
Kovacicek paid the ultimate sacrifice. Our thoughts and prayers go out 
to his family. God bless them, and all the members of the armed forces 
fighting the war on terror, and their families.

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