[Congressional Record Volume 152, Number 34 (Thursday, March 16, 2006)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E394]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                       TRIBUTE TO KADE HINKHOUSE



                                 ______
                                 

                        HON. MARILYN N. MUSGRAVE

                              of colorado

                    in the house of representatives

                        Thursday, March 16, 2006

  Mrs. MUSGRAVE. Mr. Speaker, today I rise to honor a true American 
hero, Lance Corporal Kade Hinkhouse. Lance Corporal Hinkhouse is a 
United States Marine from the 1st Marine Division, 3rd Battalion, 7th 
Marine Regiment based out of Twenty-Nine Palms, California. Kade is 
from Burlington, Colorado,
  At a young age, Kade was impacted by the devastating terrorist 
attacks that occurred on September 11, 2001. Because of his pride in 
our country and determination to protect America's values, Kade signed 
up for the Marine Corp just prior to graduating from high school.
  Last year, LCpl. Hinkhouse was sent to the Middle East to serve in 
Operation Iraqi Freedom. On October 9, 2005, LCpl. Hinkhouse was 
severely injured while on his mission at Ar Ramadi, Iraq. After being 
stationed there for only one month, he and 12 others traveling in a 
small convoy were hit on the right side with an improvised explosive 
device. Kade's vehicle was in the middle. The explosion killed the 
Marine sitting next to him, and 4 other soldiers were injured.
  LCpl. Hinkhouse sustained the worst of the injuries including a 
traumatic brain injury, shrapnel in his shoulder, an open leg wound, 
and two collapsed lungs. He and the other 4 injured Marines were taken 
to the Baghdad hospital, where the medical staff stabilized Kade and 
amputated his right leg at the knee. The next day, Kade was flown to a 
military hospital in Germany.
  His head trauma was very severe because of severe bruising and 
swelling. The doctors had to remove a portion of the right side of his 
skull to alleviate the swelling around Kade's brain. He stayed in 
Germany until Thursday, October 13, 2005, and then he was flown to 
Bethesda, Maryland. LCpl. Hinkhouse is now at Walter Reed Hospital 
receiving therapy and recovering.
  Mr. Speaker, we are so fortunate to live in a country served by 
Marines like LCpl. Hinkhouse; I am grateful for the courage of our 
servicemen and women. We can maintain the blessings of our freedoms 
only because we have citizens like Kade who are willing to defend them.
  I am proud to honor Kade for his courage and sacrifice on behalf of 
all Americans. I applaud Kade for his courage and selfless dedication 
to duty. Lance Corporal Kade Hinkhouse is the embodiment of the values 
that makes America the great Nation it is today.

                          ____________________