[Congressional Record Volume 152, Number 35 (Monday, March 27, 2006)]
[Senate]
[Pages S2403-S2404]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                       HONORING OUR ARMED FORCES


                     sergeant jonathan adam hughes

  Mr. McCONNELL. Mr. President, I ask the Senate to pause for a moment 
today to remember the heroism and sacrifice of SGT Jonathan Adam 
Hughes.
  ``Sergeant Hughes was a proud member of Bravo Battery, First 
Battalion, 623rd Field Artillery, and he will always remain a member. 
He has earned that right.'' So says Sergeant Hughes's wife, Sara 
Hughes, on her husband's time in the Kentucky Army National Guard. She 
continues, ``He will never have to re-enlist or extend his contract, 
for it has been extended forever.''
  On March 19, 2005, Sergeant Hughes and three other Kentucky Guard 
soldiers were traveling south in a Humvee, escorting a 30-truck convoy 
to Camp Liberty, the loading and unloading zone for supply trucks near 
the Baghdad International Airport.
  Suddenly, at a point about 30 miles from Camp Liberty, an explosive 
device hidden in a car detonated. The other soldiers in the Humvee were 
injured; Sergeant Hughes, of Lebanon, KY, was killed. He had served his 
Nation as a citizen-soldier for almost 4 years. He was 21 years old.
  For his valorous service, Sergeant Hughes was awarded the Bronze Star 
Medal, the Purple Heart and the Combat Action Badge. He had previously 
received the Army Good Conduct Medal, and he was awarded the Kentucky 
Distinguished Service Medal, for demonstrating all the qualities of a 
great soldier, remaining combat-focused while decisively engaged with 
the enemy, performing his duties and accomplishing his mission.
  Adam, as his family and friends called him, was inspired to enlist in 
the Kentucky National Guard after his time in Junior ROTC at Marion 
County High School, where he graduated in 2002. After Sergeant Hughes's 
death, the flag outside Marion County High flew at half-staff in his 
honor and memory.
  SFC Twymon Ray, Jr., also from Lebanon, KY, served with Sergeant 
Hughes and reports that one couldn't have asked to work alongside a 
finer soldier. Sergeant Hughes excelled at whatever task was put before 
him. When given an order, he would often reply with the rejoinder, 
``Gotcha, boss, gotcha covered.''
  On March 18, 2005, the day before the fatal attack, Sergeant Hughes 
and his unit were leading a convoy when they came upon another convoy, 
headed in the opposite direction, that was under attack. Being in the 
lead Humvee, Sergeant Hughes's team moved forward to engage the 
terrorists, a group of three or four cars with gunmen in their trunks.
  As the terrorist drivers weaved between the tractor-trailers, the 
gunmen would open the trunks and fire at the truck drivers. Sergeant 
Hughes, who had volunteered to serve as his unit's gunner that day, 
engaged two of the cars, immediately drawing fire from both sides of 
the road.
  SGT Brian Mattingly, Sergeant Hughes's team leader, recalls hearing 
shots ``ping'' off the armor of the Humvee he and Adam were in. The 
team was able to rescue two Iraqi-national truck drivers who had been 
targeted by these malicious killers. Sergeant Hughes was successful in 
chasing the enemy off and allowing both convoys to continue on their 
way without further attack.
  During his downtime in Iraq at Camp Anaconda, Adam built a desk and 
book shelf from plywood the squad had acquired to hold his treasured 
pictures of his wife, Sara, and their young son, Peyton. Adam was also 
a cook. He asked his mother and grandmother to send him a frying pan, 
and he would fry up potatoes after a unit run to Baghdad to pick up 
food and other supplies.
  Adam Hughes also used his downtime in Iraq to work on his Humvee or 
play video games. He grew up as an avid outdoorsman, and especially 
enjoyed hunting and fishing.
  Sergeant Hughes was laid to rest last year in Holy Name of Mary 
Cemetery, outside Lebanon, KY. I was honored to be one of the many who 
went to pay my respects that day to a courageous American hero. A lot 
of people love and miss Adam Hughes, and they will remember his 
bravery, his can-do optimism, and his sacrifice.
  CPT Lawrence Joiner, commander of Sergeant Hughes's company, 
remembered Adam for his quiet and shy disposition, saying, ``Words 
cannot express our love and brotherhood. . . . He will forever be a 
part of our lives.''
  Adam was blessed to have a loving family and many friends. His wife 
Sara is present today, and we thank her for sharing her memories of her 
husband with us. I also commend Mrs. Hughes for her tremendous 
compassion for the families of other Kentucky Guard soldiers who have 
fallen in service of our country, which she has shown by attending 
funerals and helping other soldiers' families cope with their loss.
  Mrs. Hughes has brought her son, Peyton, who is almost 2 years old, 
to the Capitol today to honor his father. Accompanying the Hughes 
family is SGT Keith Cox, who served with Sergeant Hughes, his wife, 
Libbi, and their children Kyle and Mariah. The Hughes family is lucky 
to have such friends during this difficult time.
  Adam also leaves behind a loving family: his mother, Karen Hill; his 
father, John Hughes; and his two sisters, Nikki Hill and Claire Hughes.
  ``There are no great words in a time of deep tragedy. But surely 
there are great men in the midst of great tragedy.'' Those are again 
the words of Sara Hughes. How true and how profound.
  I ask my colleagues to join me today in saying that America can never 
repay the debt we owe SGT Jonathan Adam Hughes or the Hughes family. We 
are truly blessed to live in a country where so many brave men and 
women volunteer to wear the uniform and defend freedom, here at home 
and across the world.
  I yield the floor.
  I suggest the absence of a quorum.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. The clerk will call the roll.
  The assistant legislative clerk proceeded to call the roll.
  Mr. LOTT. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the order for 
the quorum call be rescinded.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER (Mr. Vitter). Without objection, it is so 
ordered.

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