[Congressional Record Volume 152, Number 43 (Thursday, April 6, 2006)]
[Senate]
[Pages S3203-S3205]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                       HONORING OUR ARMED FORCES

  Mrs. BOXER. Mr. President, today I rise to pay tribute to 27 young 
Americans who have been killed in Iraq since February 1. This brings to 
550 the number of soldiers who were either from California or based in 
California who have been killed while serving our country in Iraq. This 
represents 24 percent of all U.S. deaths in Iraq.
  PFC Sean T. Cardelli, 20, died February 1 from enemy small arms fire 
while conducting combat operations near Fallujah. He was assigned to 
the 3rd Battalion, 5th Marine Regiment, 1st Marine Division, Camp 
Pendleton, CA. During Operation Iraqi Freedom, his unit was attached to 
the 2nd Marine Division.
  PFC Caesar S. Viglienzone, 21, died February 1 in Baghdad when an 
improvised explosive device detonated near his Humvee. He was assigned 
to the Army's 1st Battalion, 502nd Infantry Regiment, 2nd Brigade 
Combat Team, 101st Airborne Division, Fort Campbell, KY. He was from 
Santa Rosa, CA.
  SPC Roberto L. Martinez Salazar, 21, died February 4 in Mosul when an 
improvised explosive device detonated near his up-armored Humvee during 
patrol operations. He was assigned to Company A, 14th Engineer 
Battalion, 555th Maneuver Enhancement Brigade, Fort Lewis, WA. He was 
from Long Beach, CA.
  PFC Javier Chavez, 19, died February 9 from wounds received as a 
result of an improvised explosive device while conducting combat 
operations near Fallujah. He was assigned to the 3rd Battalion, 5th 
Marine Regiment, 1st Marine Division, Camp Pendleton, CA. During 
Operation Iraqi Freedom, his unit was attached to the 2nd Marine 
Division. He was from Cutler, CA.
  Cpl Ross A. Smith, 21, died February 9 from an improvised explosive 
device while conducting combat operations against enemy forces near 
Fallujah. He was assigned to the 3rd Battalion, 5th Marine Regiment, 
1st Marine Division, Camp Pendleton, CA. During Operation Iraqi 
Freedom, his unit was attached to the 2nd Marine Division.
  Petty Officer 3rd Class Nicholas Wilson, 25, died February 12 as a 
result of an improvised explosive device in Al Anbar Province. He was 
assigned to Explosive Ordnance Disposal Mobile Unit Three, based in San 
Diego, CA.
  LCpl Michael S. Probst, 26, died February 14 from an improvised 
explosive

[[Page S3204]]

device while conducting combat operations near Abu Ghraib. He was 
assigned to 1st Tank Battalion, 1st Marine Division, Twentynine Palms, 
CA. During Operation Iraqi Freedom, his unit was attached to the 2nd 
Marine Division. He was from Irvine, CA.
  Cpl Matthew D. Conley, 21, died February 18 when his vehicle was 
attacked with an improvised explosive device while conducting combat 
operations in Ar Ramadi. He was assigned to the 3rd Battalion, 7th 
Marine Regiment, 1st Marine Division, Twentynine Palms, CA. During 
Operation Iraqi Freedom, his unit was attached to the 2nd Marine 
Division.
  SSgt Jay T. Collado, 31, died February 20 from an improvised 
explosive device near Baghdad. He was assigned to Marine Light/Attack 
Helicopter Squadron-267, 3rd Marine Aircraft Wing, Camp Pendleton, CA. 
During Operation Iraqi Freedom, he was attached to the U.S. Army's 4th 
Infantry Division.
  2LT Almar L. Fitzgerald, 23, died February 21 at Landstuhl Regional 
Medical Center, Germany, from wounds received February 18 as a result 
of an improvised explosive device while conducting combat operations 
against enemy forces in Al Anbar Province. He was assigned to the 3rd 
Battalion, 7th Marine Regiment, 1st Marine Division, Twentynine Palms, 
CA. During Operation Iraqi Freedom, his unit was attached to the 2nd 
Marine Division.
  LCpl Adam J. Vanalstine, 21, died February 25 from an improvised 
explosive device in Ar Ramadi. He was assigned to the 3rd Battalion, 
7th Marine Regiment, 1st Marine Division, Twentynine Palms, CA. During 
Operation Iraqi Freedom, his unit was attached to the 2nd Marine 
Division.
  LCpl John J. Thornton, 22, died February 25 of wounds received as a 
result of an enemy mortar attack in Ar Ramadi. He was assigned to 3rd 
Battalion, 7th Marine Regiment, 1st Marine Division. During Operation 
Iraqi Freedom, his unit was attached to the 2nd Marine Division.
  SPC Clay P. Farr, 21, died February 26 in Baghdad when an improvised 
explosive device detonated near his Humvee during patrol operations. He 
was assigned to the 1st Squadron, 71st Cavalry, 1st Brigade Combat 
Team, 10th Mountain Division of Fort Drum, NY. He was from Bakersfield, 
CA.
  LCpl Matthew A. Snyder, 20, died March 3 from a non-combat-related 
vehicle accident in Al Anbar Province. He was assigned to Combat 
Service Support Group-1, 1st Marine Logistics Group, Twentynine Palms, 
CA.
  Cpl Adam O. Zanutto, 26, died March 6 at National Naval Medical 
Center in Bethesda, Maryland, from wounds received as a result of an 
improvised explosive device in Al Anbar Province on February 25. He was 
assigned the 3rd Battalion, 7th Marine Regiment, 1st Marine Division, 
Twentynine Palms, CA. He was from Caliente, CA.
  LCpl Bunny Long, 22, died March 10 from a suicide, vehicle-borne, 
improvised explosive device in Al Anbar Province. He was assigned to 
Headquarters Battalion, 2nd Marine Division, Camp Lejeune, NC. He was 
from Modesto, CA.
  LCpl Kristen K. Figaroa Marino, 20, died March 12 while conducting 
combat operations in the Al Anbar Province. He was assigned to the 3rd 
Battalion, 7th Marine Regiment, 1st Marine Division, Twentynine Palms, 
CA.
  PFC Angelo A. Zawaydeh, 19, died March 15 in Baghdad when his traffic 
control point came under mortar attack during combat operations. He was 
assigned to the 2nd Battalion, 502nd Infantry Regiment, 2nd Brigade, 
101st Airborne Division, Air Assault, Fort Campbell, KY. He was from 
San Bruno, CA.
  SSG Ricardo Barraza, 24, died March 18 in Ar Ramadi when he came 
under small arms fire by enemy forces during combat operations. He was 
assigned to the 2nd Battalion, 75th Ranger Regiment, Fort Lewis, WA. He 
was from Shafter, CA.
  SGT Dale G. Brehm, 23, died March 18 in Ar Ramadi when he came under 
small arms fire by enemy forces during combat operations. He was 
assigned to the 2nd Battalion, 75th Ranger Regiment, Fort Lewis, WA. He 
was from Turlock, CA.
  Hospitalman Geovani Padillaaleman, 20, died April 2 as a result of 
enemy action in Al Anbar Province. He was permanently assigned to 
Bethesda Naval Hospital, USNS Comfort Detachment and operationally 
assigned to Third Battalion, 8th Marine Regiment, 2/28 Brigade Combat 
Team. He was from South Gate, CA.
  Cpl David A. Bass, 20, died April 2 when the seven-ton truck he was 
riding in rolled over in a flash flood near Al Asad. He was assigned to 
an element of the 1st Marine Logistics Group, Camp Pendleton, CA.
  LCpl Patrick J. Gallagher, 27, died April 2 when the seven-ton truck 
he was riding in rolled over in a flash flood near Al Asad. He was 
assigned to an element of the 1st Marine Logistics Group, Camp 
Pendleton, CA.
  LCpl Felipe D. Sandoval-Flores, 20, died April 2 when the seven-ton 
truck he was riding in rolled over in a flash flood near Al Asad. He 
was assigned to an element of the 1st Marine Logistics Group, Camp 
Pendleton, CA. He was from Los Angeles, CA.
  Cpl Brian R. St. Germain, 22, died April 2 when the seven-ton truck 
he was riding in rolled over in a flash flood near Al Asad. He was 
assigned to an element of the 1st Marine Logistics Group, Camp 
Pendleton, CA.
  SSgt Abraham G. Twitchell, 28, died April 2 when the seven-ton truck 
he was riding in rolled over in a flash flood near Al Asad. He was 
assigned to the Combat Service Support Group-1, 1st Marine Logistics 
Group, Twentynine Palms, CA.
  SPC Ty J. Johnson, 28, died April 4 in Kirkuk when an improvised 
explosive device detonated near his Humvee during combat operations. He 
was assigned to the 2nd Battalion, 320th Field Artillery Regiment, 1st 
Brigade Combat team, 101st Airborne Division, Fort Campbell, KY. He was 
from Elk Grove, CA.
  Mr. President, 550 men and women who were either from California or 
based in California have been killed while serving our country in Iraq. 
I pray for these young Americans and their families.
  I would also like to pay tribute to the two soldiers from or based in 
California who have died while serving our country in Operation 
Enduring Freedom since February 1.
  SFC Chad A. Gonsalves, 31, died February 13 north of Deh Rawod, 
Afghanistan, when an improvised explosive device detonated near his 
Humvee during combat operations. He was assigned to the 3rd Battalion, 
7th Special Forces Group, Fort Bragg, NC. He was from Turlock, CA.
  MSG Emigdio E. Elizarraras, 37, died February 28 in Tarin Kowt, 
Afghanistan, when an improvised explosive device detonated near his 
Humvee during a reconnaissance mission. He was assigned to the 3rd 
Battalion, 7th Special Forces Group, Fort Bragg, NC. He was from Pico 
Rivera, CA.
  Mr. President, 37 soldiers who were either from California or based 
in California have been killed while serving our country in Operation 
Enduring Freedom. I pray for these Americans and their families.


               Staff Army Specialist Antoine J. McKinzie

  Mr. BAYH. Mr. President, I rise today with a heavy heart and deep 
sense of gratitude to honor the life of a brave young man from 
Indianapolis. Army Specialist Antoine J. McKinzie, 25 years old, died 
on March 21st when his unit came under attack during a patrol of 
western Baghdad. With his entire life before him, Antoine risked 
everything to fight for the values we Americans hold close to our 
hearts, in a land halfway around the world.
  Antoine graduated from Pike High School in 2000 and joined the Army 3 
years later, after receiving his associate's degree in computer-aided 
drafting from ITT Technical Institute. Jerry Henson, Antoine's best 
friend, described him as ``one of the best guys I've ever known. I just 
remember his laugh. He had one helluva laugh. He had a hearty, tall-guy 
laugh. It is one of those things that I will miss a lot.'' In December, 
Antoine returned to Indiana for 3 weeks to celebrate Christmas with his 
family. His stepfather recounted to a local newspaper, ``He looked 
great. He was healthy. He was happy. He felt like he was doing an 
important job He was proud to serve his country.''
  Antoine was killed while serving his country in Operation Iraqi 
Freedom. He was a member of the 4th Battalion, 27th Field Artillery 
Regiment, 1st Armored Division, based in Baumholder, Germany. Today, I 
join Antoine's family and friends in mourning his death.

[[Page S3205]]

While we struggle to bear our sorrow over this loss, we can also take 
pride in the example he set, bravely fighting to make the world a safer 
place. It is his courage and strength of character that people will 
remember when they think of Antoine, a memory that will burn brightly 
during these continuing days of conflict and grief.
  Antoine was known for his dedication to his family and his love of 
country. Today and always, Antoine will be remembered by family 
members, friends, and fellow Hoosiers as a true American hero, and we 
honor the sacrifice he made while dutifully serving his country.
  As I search for words to do justice in honoring Antoine's sacrifice, 
I am reminded of President Lincoln's remarks as he addressed the 
families of the fallen soldiers in Gettysburg: ``We cannot dedicate, we 
cannot consecrate, we cannot hallow this ground. The brave men, living 
and dead, who struggled here, have consecrated it, far above our poor 
power to add or detract. The world will little note nor long remember 
what we say here, but it can never forget what they did here.'' This 
statement is just as true today as it was nearly 150 years ago, as I am 
certain that the impact of Antoine's actions will live on far longer 
that any record of these words.
  It is my sad duty to enter the name of Antoine J. McKinzie in the 
official record of the U.S. Senate for his service to this country and 
for his profound commitment to freedom, democracy, and peace. When I 
think about this just cause in which we are engaged, and the 
unfortunate pain that comes with the loss of our heroes, I hope that 
families like Antoine's can find comfort in the words of the prophet 
Isaiah who said, ``He will swallow up death in victory; and the Lord 
God will wipe away tears from off all faces.''
  May God grant strength and peace to those who mourn, and may God be 
with all of you, as I know He is with Antoine.

                          ____________________