[Congressional Record Volume 151, Number 147 (Tuesday, November 8, 2005)]
[Senate]
[Pages S12519-S12520]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                       HONORING OUR ARMED FORCES


                  Death of Army Specialist Darren Howe

  Mr. HAGEL. Mr. President, I rise to express my sympathy over the loss 
of Darren Howe of Beatrice, NE, a specialist in the U.S. Army. 
Specialist Howe died of wounds suffered after his Bradley fighting 
vehicle was struck by a roadside bomb on October 17, near Samarra, 
Iraq.
  Though severely burned, Specialist Howe regained control of the 
Bradley, and helped evacuate soldiers in the rear of the vehicle. His 
efforts helped save the lives of his fellow soldiers. He was 21 years 
old.
  Specialist Howe grew up in Beatrice, NE, and graduated from Beatrice 
high school in 2003. He joined the Army Reserve in High School, and 
upon graduation enlisted in the Army full time. Specialist Howe was a 
member of Company A, 1st Battalion, 15th Infantry Regiment, 3rd 
Infantry Division, Fort Benning, GA. Specialist Howe will be remembered 
as a loyal soldier who had a strong sense of duty, honor, and love of 
country. Thousands of brave Americans like Specialist Darren Howe are 
currently serving in Iraq.
  Specialist Howe is survived by his wife Nakia and their two children, 
Shaye-Maleigh, 3, and Gary-Dean, 1. He is also survived by his mother 
and stepfather, JoDee and Greg Klaus of Beatrice; father and 
stepmother, Steve and Beau Howe of Emporia, KS, brother Brandon Howe 
and step-brother Alex Klaus. Our thoughts and prayers are with them at 
this difficult time. America is proud of Specialist Howe's heroic 
service and mourns his loss.
  I ask my colleagues to join me and all Americans in honoring 
Specialist Darren Howe.


             Tribute to Private First Class Tyler MacKenzie

  Mr. ALLARD. Mr. President, today I honor the life of PFC Tyler Ryan 
MacKenzie who was assigned to the 502nd Infantry Regiment, 2nd Brigade 
Combat Team, 101st Airborne Division. His service to the U.S. Army led 
Private MacKenzie of Evans, CO, to Fort Campbell, KY, and eventually 
Iraq. Last Wednesday his life, along with three of his fellow soldiers, 
came to an end when his vehicle was struck by a roadside bomb.
  Today we have many remarkable men and women serving in our military 
with a strong sense of dedication to the United States. Tyler himself 
came from a line of military servicemen in his family and he too felt 
an obligation to serve in the Armed Forces. Private MacKenzie's family 
is proud of his service to our country.
  The democratic milestones reached in Iraq in the last 2 years would 
not have been possible without dedication of our brave men and women in 
uniform and support provided by their loved ones. At this difficult 
time my heart goes out to Tyler's family and all those who take part in 
the noble cause of protecting freedoms that we all enjoy. I am thankful 
for Tyler MacKenzie and those that preceded him in making the ultimate 
sacrifice. Their lives should be honored by firmly resisting the enemy 
and completing the mission.


                In Honor of Army Specialist Darren Howe

  Mr. NELSON of Nebraska. Mr. President, I rise today to honor Army SPC 
Darren Howe of Beatrice, NE.
  Specialist Howe, 21, began his service in the Army Reserve. He 
graduated in 2003 from Beatrice High School and decided to join the 
Army full-time. Specialist Howe was assigned to A Company, 1st 
Battalion, 15th Infantry Regiment, 3rd Infantry Division, Fort Benning, 
GA.
  On October 17, 2005, SPC Darren Howe was mortally wounded when an 
improvised explosive detonated close to the Bradley fighting vehicle he 
was driving near Samarra, Iraq. He was treated in Germany before being 
taken to Brooke Army Medical Center in Texas, where he died on November 
3, 2005.
  Specialist Howe is survived by his wife, Nakia, who lives in 
Plymouth, NE. Darren and Nakia are the parents of a 3-year-old 
daughter, Shaye-Maleigh, and a 1-year-old son, Gary-Dean. I would like 
to offer my sincere condolences and prayers to the family and friends 
of Specialist Howe. His noble service to the United States of America 
is to be respected and remembered by all. Every American and all 
Nebraskans should be proud of the service of brave military personnel 
such as SPC Darren Howe.


                  In Honor of Army Captain Joel Cahill

  Mr. President, I rise today to honor Army CPT Joel Cahill of 
Papillion, NE.
  CPT Joel Cahill, 33, was a selfless and honorable man whose 
commitment and service to his country earned him the Soldier's Medal, 
which is awarded for selfless action in noncombat situations. He 
graduated from Papillion-La Vista High School before graduating magna 
cum laude in 1999 from the University of Nebraska at Omaha. He was 
serving his fourth tour of combat duty and in the 1st Battalion, 15th 
Infantry from Fort Benning, GA.
  On November 6, 2005, Captain Cahill was patrolling an area in Anbar 
Province in western Iraq when a roadside bomb detonated, mortally 
wounding him.
  Captain Cahill is survived by his wife, Mary; his parents, Larry and 
Barbara Cahill; and numerous other family members, friends and fellow 
soldiers. Joel and Mary are the parents of two children, Faith, 4, and 
Brenna, 3. I would like to offer my sincere condolences and prayers to 
the family and friends of Captain Cahill. His noble service to the 
United States of America is to be respected and remembered by all. 
Every American and all Nebraskans should be proud of the service of 
brave military personnel such as CPT Joel Cahill.


              In Honor of Army Staff Sergeant Jason Fegler

  Mr. President, I rise today to honor Army SSG Jason Fegler of 
Harrisburg, NE.
  Staff Sergeant Fegler, 24, graduated from Banner County High School 
before serving for more than 4 years in the Marine Corps. He then 
joined the Army where he served in the 101st Airborne. He died November 
4, 2005, following a month of service in Iraq.
  Staff Sergeant Fegler is survived by his wife, Shianne, who is in the 
Navy and lives in Virginia Beach, VA. Jason and Shianne are the parents 
of a 2-year-old son, Aiden. He is also survived by his father, Jim 
Fegler, and numerous other family members, friends, and fellow 
soldiers.
  I would like to offer my sincere condolences and prayers to the 
family and friends of Staff Sergeant Fegler. His noble service to the 
United States of America is to be respected and remembered by all. 
Every American and all Nebraskans should be proud of the service of 
brave military personnel such as SSG Jason Fegler.

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